Buster, who carried no spirit of ill-feeling against them, merely grinned when they spit at him. But one day he stopped in front of Spot’s cage, and said:
“Why don’t you forget and forgive, Spot? This carrying a grouch around with you all the time spoils your face. Let’s be friends.”
“Friends!” snarled Spot. “I may think of that after I’ve clawed off some of your hide!”
“Me too!” echoed Ocelot. “And I’d like to begin with your eyes.”
“And I’ll lap up his warm blood when you’ve killed him,” growled Timber the Wolf from his cage.
Buster, instead of being offended at these threats, sat back on his haunches and laughed. Then noticing the Old Lion watching them, his eyes blinking sleepily, he turned to him.
“What would you like to do to me, Old Lion?” he asked.
“Nothing, Buster, except to give you some good advice,” was the reply.
“That’s a friendly offer. I’ll listen to it.”
The Old Lion winked and blinked, stretched himself with a yawn, and then sat up looking for all the world like the noble king of the beasts.
“When your enemies threaten you, Buster,” he said slowly, “it is wise to listen to them so you may be prepared. Don’t let the pride of strength deceive you. The mouse gnawed through the net that the lion couldn’t break, and Cobra the Reptile put a whole jungle of animals to flight. That is all, Buster.”
“Thank you, Old Lion,” replied Buster. “I’ll remember what you said.”
“It doesn’t make any difference to me whether you remember it or not,” was the answer, as the Old Lion stretched out and went to sleep.
Buster did remember the advice for a few days, and then forgot it. He also ignored Spot and Ocelot, for they refused to make friends with him. Meanwhile, his progress as a trick bear increased, and he appeared nightly before big audiences with Chiquita.
One day the big tent was taken down, for the circus was to move to another town. There was such noise and confusion that every one was upset. Buster found his customary resting place filled with packing boxes and baggage. Somewhat put out by this he wandered around, and finally climbed on the top of a bundle of canvas away from the confusion.
It was a soft, comfortable bed, and Buster soon fell asleep. He snored and rolled around in his slumber until attendants came running up to find out what the trouble was. When they discovered him, they laughed and said: