Pant paused. The animal tent was still. Suddenly a crimson flash gleamed. For an instant it turned the black cat blood red. The next moment, with a wild snarl, the beast flattened himself against the bars of his cage.
A keeper sprang out of the darkness.
“What’s that?” he demanded.
“What’s what?” drawled Pant.
“I thought I saw a flash.”
“He evidently thought something of the sort,” Pant replied, poking his thumb at the black cat.
“Well, you guys better move on. This ain’t no place for spinnin’ yarns.”
“That’s all right,” drawled Pant, “but let me tell you, friend; if anything ever happens to this circus, a fire, a cyclone, a train wreck, or anything like that, you get that cat. Get that black cat!”
“What d’you know about him?”
“Plenty that I don’t tell to strangers.”