“Where’s that fly? Where’s that fly?” roared Nero. For you see he thought the tickling tip of Tamba’s tail was a fly on his nose.
“What’s the matter here? What’s the trouble?” cried one of the circus men, as he ran into the animal tent, having heard Nero roar.
“Are some of the lions or tigers trying to get loose?” asked another man.
“No, it seems to be Nero,” replied the first. “What’s the matter, old boy?” he asked, as he saw how angry Nero was. For the lion was lashing his tail from side to side and roaring:
Of course the circus men didn’t know exactly what Nero was saying, but they could tell he was angry, and they were afraid, if he bounded against the bars of his cage much more, he might break some.
“I don’t see what makes Nero act that way,” said the man who had charge of the lion, and who had taught him to do tricks. “Once before he acted like this, but it was when a bee stung him on the nose.”
“Maybe that is what happened this time,” said the second man.
“I don’t see any bees flying around,” went on the lion’s keeper. Just then Tamba, seeing that he had awakened Nero, and had played all the tricks he wanted to, pulled his tail out from between the bars of the lion’s cage. And, just as he did so, the keeper saw him.
“Oh, ho! I know what the matter was,” the man said. “The tiger tickled the lion. Tamba tickled Nero with his tail through the bars of the cage. That’s what made Nero angry. Tamba, you’re a bad, mischievous tiger!” and he shook his finger at the striped animal. Tamba walked over to the corner of his cage and curled up.
“Well, I had some fun, anyhow!” he thought. “I waked Nero up all right!”
And so he had. And now Nero knew what had happened, for Tum Tum, the jolly elephant, had seen it all, and Tum Tum said:
“It wasn’t a fly on the end of your nose, Nero; it was the fuzzy tip of Tamba’s tail. I saw him tickle you!”
“Oh, you did, did you?” cried Nero, and this time he did not roar. “Why did you tickle me, Tamba?”
“Oh, I didn’t like to see you sleeping so nicely when I couldn’t sleep, because I’m thinking so much of the jungle,” answered the tiger. “Besides, it was only a joke. I wanted to see if I could make you think my tail was a fly on your nose. I did.”
“Yes, you surely did,” admitted Nero. “I felt the tickle, even in my sleep. But if it was only a joke, Tamba, I won’t be angry. I like a joke as well as any one,” and Nero laughed in his lionish way. “But, after this, I’m going to sleep in the far corner of my cage, where your tail won’t reach me. A joke is all right, but sleep is better. Now it will be my turn to play a joke on you, Tamba.”