The Animal Story Book - The Original Classic Edition. Lang Andrew

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СКАЧАТЬ 'When Day broke' 166

       [xiv]The Death of the Famous Wolf of Gevaudan 171

       'The Long Vigil' 187

       The Capture of the Cayman 197

       The Wounding of Fido 201

       The Dream of the Hungry Lion 207

       Cagnotte comes out of his Skin 217

       'And what do you Think she Saw' 221

       Blanche telling Ghost Stories to Jane in the Stable 227

       How the Dolphins helped the Fishermen to catch the Mullets 234

       Two Oran Otans 238

       The Baboons who stole the Poor Man's Dinner 241

       Birds' Nests for Dinner 258

       'In the full enjoyment of a large lighted Log on the Dining-room Carpet' 261

       'Oscar would charge and rout them' 265

       'Oscar felt rather Frightened' 269

       'Oh, Oscar, Oscar, lad what have you Done?' 271

       The Boy goes to School on the Dolphin's back 275

       Dumas finds Joseph standing on Gazelle's back 284

       Dumas brings Gazelle to No. 109 Faubourg St.-Denis 288

       The Lion caught in the Pit 297

       The Ambush 300

       'All Three stopped to gaze at the Man who dared to put himself in their Path' 303

       'And pinned Him to the Ground' 314

       'Long, Long Ago.' The Elephant dreams of his Old Companions 323

       The Elephant falls on his knees before the little Scotch Terrier 327

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       Bungey at the Spanish Ambassador's House 331

       The Hottentot noticed a huge Lion lying in the Water 335

       Annoyance of the Captain on finding his Flask of Rum upset 339

       Lori refuses to Share with the Signora 349

       A Raven's Funeral 365

       The Tiger and his Friend 369

       Love's disgraceful Behaviour out Shooting 377

       The Sole Result of his Day's Sport 380

       Mademoiselle Camargo becomes a Barometer 381

       The Faithful Spaniel 389 [1]

       'TOM'

       AN ADVENTURE IN THE LIFE OF A BEAR IN PARIS

       From Alexandre Dumas.

       Some sixty years ago and more, a well-known artist named Decamps lived in Paris. He was the intimate friend of some of the

       first authors, artists, and scientific men of the day, and was devotedly fond of animals of all sorts. He loved to paint them, and he kept quite a small menagerie in his studio where a bear, a monkey, a tortoise, and a frog lived (more or less) in peace and harmony together.

       The bear's name was 'Tom,' the monkey was called 'Jacko I.,'[1] the frog was 'Mademoiselle Camargo,' and the tortoise 'Gazelle.' [1] To distinguish him from Jacko II., a monkey belonging to Tony Johannot, the painter.

       Here follows the story of Tom, the bear.

       It was the night of Shrove Tuesday in the year 1832. Tom had as yet only spent six months in Paris, but he was really one of the

       most attractive bears you could wish to meet.

       He ran to open the door when the bell rang, he mounted guard for hours together, halberd in hand, standing on his hind legs, and he

       danced a minuet with infinite grace, holding a broomstick behind his head.

       He had spent the whole day in the exercise of these varied accomplishments, to the great delight of the frequenters of his master's studio, and had just retired to the [2] press which did duty as his hutch, to seek a little repose, when there was a knock at the street door. Jacko instantly showed such signs of joy that Decamps made a shrewd guess that the visitor could be no other than Fan, the self-elected tutor in chief to the two animals--nor was he mistaken. The door opened, Fan appeared, dressed as a clown, and Jacko flung himself in rapture into his arms.

       'Very good, very good,' said Fan, placing the monkey on the table and handing him a cane. 'You're really a charming creature. Carry

       arms, present arms, make ready, fire! Capital!'

       'I'll have a complete uniform made for you, and you shall mount guard instead of me. But I haven't come for you to-night; it's your

       friend Tom I want. Where may he be?'

       'Why, in his hutch, I suppose,' said Decamps.

       'Tom! here, Tom!' cried Fan.

       Tom gave a low growl, just to show that he knew very well who they were talking of, but that he was in no hurry to show himself.

       'Well!' exclaimed Fan, 'is this how my orders are obeyed? Tom, my friend, don't force me to resort to extreme measures.'

       Tom stretched one great paw beyond the cupboard without allowing any more of his person to be seen, and began to yawn plain-

       tively like a child just wakened from its first sleep.

       'Where is the broomstick?' inquired Fan in threatening tones, and rattling the collection of Indian bows, arrows, and spears which

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       stood behind the door.

       'Ready!' cried Decamps, pointing to Tom, who, on hearing these well known sounds, had roused himself without more ado, and advanced towards his tutor with a perfectly innocent and unconscious air.

       'That's right,' said Fan: 'now be a good fellow, particularly as one has come all this way on purpose to fetch you.' [3]

       TOM IS INVITED TO THE BALL

       [5] Tom waved his head up and down.

       'So, so--now shake hands with your friends:--first rate!'

       'Do you mean to take him with you?' asked Decamps.

       'Rather!' replied Fan; 'and give him a good time into the bargain.'

       'And where are you going?'

       'To the Carnival Masked Ball, nothing less! Now then Tom, my friend, come along. We've got a cab outside waiting by the hour.' As though fully appreciating the force of this argument, Tom trundled down stairs four steps at a time followed by his friend. The

       driver opened the cab door, and Tom, under Fan's guidance, stepped in as if he had done nothing else all his life.

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