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ttendant through the bars jabbed the iron fork into Ben Bolt's ribs； and when Ben Bolt； anything but royal； slinking like a beaten alley…cat； in pitiable terror； crawled over to the chair and sat down in it like a man。 He now was an 〃educated〃 tiger。 The sight of him； so sitting； tragically travestying man； has been considered； and is considered； 〃educative〃 by multitudinous audiences。
The second case； that of St。 Elias； was a harder one； and it was marked down against Mulcachy as one of his rare failures； though all admitted that it was an unavoidable failure。 St。 Elias was a huge monster of an Alaskan bear； who was good…natured and even facetious and humorous after the way of bears。 But he had a will of his own that was correspondingly as stubborn as his bulk。 He could be persuaded to do things； but he would not tolerate being compelled to do things。 And in the trained…animal world； where turns must go off like clockwork； is little or no space for persuasion。 An animal must do its turn； and do it promptly。 Audiences will not brook the delay of waiting while a trainer tries to persuade a crusty or roguish beast to do what the audience has paid to see it do。
So St。 Elias received his first lesson in compulsion。 It was also his last lesson； and it never progressed so far as the training… arena； for it took place in his own cage。
Noosed in the customary way； his four legs dragged through the bars； and his head； by means of a 〃choke〃 collar； drawn against the bars； he was first of all manicured。 Each one of his great claws was cut off flush with his flesh。 The men outside did this。 Then Mulcachy； on the inside； punched his nose。 Not lightly as it sounds was this operation。 The punch was a perforation。 Thrusting the instrument into the huge bear's nostril； Mulcachy cut a clean round chunk of living meat out of one side of it。 Mulcachy knew the bear business。 At all times； to make an untrained bear obey； one must be fast to some sensitive portion of the bear。 The ears； the nose； and the eyes are the accessible sensitive parts； and； the eyes being out of the question； remain the nose and the ears as the parts to which to make fast。
Through the perforation Mulcachy immediately clamped a metal ring。 To the ring he fastened a long 〃lunge〃…rope； which was well named。 Any unruly lunge； at any time during all the subsequent life of St。 Elias； could thus be checked by the man who held the lunge… rope。 His destiny was patent and ordained。 For ever； as long as he lived and breathed； would he be a prisoner and slave to the rope in the ring in his nostril。
The nooses were slipped； and St。 Elias was at liberty； within the confines of his cage； to get acquainted with the ring in his nose。 With his powerful fore…paws； standing erect and roaring； he proceeded to get acquainted with the ring。 It certainly was not a thing persuasible。 It was living fire。 And he tore at it with his paws as he would have torn at the stings of bees when raiding a honey…tree。 He tore the thing out； ripping the ring clear through the flesh and transforming the round perforation into a ragged chasm of pain。
Mulcachy cursed。 〃Here's where hell coughs；〃 he said。 The nooses were introduced again。 Again St。 Elias； helpless on his side against and partly through the bars； had his nose punched。 This time it was the other nostril。 And hell coughed。 As before； the moment he was released； he tore the ring out through his flesh。
Mulcachy was disgusted。 〃Listen to reason； won't you？〃 he objurgated； as； this time； the reason he referred to was the introduction of the ring clear through both nostrils； higher up； and through the central dividing wall of cartilage。 But St。 Elias was unreasonable。 Unlike Ben Bolt； there was nothing inside of him weak enough； or nervous enough； or high…strung enough； to break。 The moment he was free he ripped the ring away with half of his nose along with it。 Mulcachy punched St。 Elias's right ear。 St。 Elias tore his right ear to shreds。 Mulcachy punched his left ear。 He tore his left ear to shreds。 And Mulcachy gave in。 He had to。 As he said plaintively：
〃We're beaten。 There ain't nothing left to make fast to。〃
Later； when St。 Elias was condemned to be a 〃cage…animal〃 all his days； Mulcachy was wont to grumble：
〃He was the most unreasonable animal！ Couldn't do a thing with him。 Couldn't ever get anything to make fast to。〃
CHAPTER XXXIV
It was in the Orpheum Theatre； of Oakland； California； and Harley Kennan was in the act of reaching under his seat for his hat； when his wife said：
〃Why； this isn't the interval。 There's one more turn yet。〃
〃A dog turn；〃 he answered； and thereby explained； for it was his practice to leave a theatre during the period of the performance of an animal…act。
Villa Kennan glanced hastily at the programme。
〃Of course；〃 she said； then added： 〃But it's a singing dog。 A dog Caruso。 And it points out that there is no one on the stage with the dog。 Let us stay for once； and see how he compares with Jerry。〃
〃Some poor brute tormented into howling；〃 Harley grumbled。
〃But it has the stage to itself；〃 Villa urged。 〃Besides； if it is painful； then we can go out。 I'll go out with you。 But I just would like to see how much better Jerry sings than does he。 And it says an Irish terrier； too。〃
So Harley Kennan remained。 The two burnt…cork comedians finished their turn and their three encores； and the curtain behind them went up on a full set of an empty stage。 A rough…coated Irish terrier entered at a sedate walk； sedately walked forward to the centre； nearly to the footlights； and faced the leader of the orchestra。 As the programme had stated； he had the stage to himself
The orchestra played the opening strains of 〃Sweet Bye and Bye。〃 The dog yawned and sat down。 But the orchestra was thoroughly instructed to play the opening strains over and over； until the dog responded； and then to follow on with him。 By the third time； the dog opened his mouth and began。 It was not a mere howling。 For that matter； it was too mellow to be classified as a howl at all。 Nor was it merely rhythmic。 The notes the dog sang were of the air； and they were correct。
But Villa Kennan scarcely heard。
〃He has Jerry beaten a mile；〃 Harley muttered to her。
〃Listen；〃 she replied； in tense whispers。 〃Did you ever see that dog before？〃
Harley shook his head。
〃You have seen him before；〃 she insisted。 〃Look at that crinkled ear。 Think！ Think back！ Remember！〃
Still her husband shook his head。
〃Remember the Solomons；〃 she pressed。 〃Remember the Ariel。 Remember when we came back from Malaita； where we picked Jerry up； to Tulagi； that he had a brother there； a nigger…chaser on a schooner。〃
〃And his name was Michaelgo on。〃
〃And he had that self…same crinkled ear；〃 she hurried。 〃And he was rough…coated。 And he was full brother to Jerry。 And their father and mother were Terrence and Biddy of Meringe。 And Jerry is our Sing Song Silly。 And this dog sings。 And he has a crinkled ear。 And his name is Michael。〃
〃Impossible；〃 said Harley。
〃It is when the impossible comes true that life proves worth while；〃 she retorted。 〃And t