Many left in haste , and the performers hurried to finish as soon as possible . `` I 'm going now before the crowd comes , so I can get a lift home . I see two or three folks I know , so I 'm off ; '' and , climbing hastily down , Sam vanished without further ceremony . `` Better wait till the shower is over . We can go and see the animals again , and get home all dry , just as well as not , '' observed Ben , encouragingly , as Billy looked anxiously at the billowing canvas over his head , the swaying posts before him , and heard the quick patter of drops outside , not to mention the melancholy roar of the lion which sounded rather awful through the sudden gloom which filled the strange place . `` I would n't miss the tigers for any thing . See , they are pulling in the cart now , and the shiny man is all ready with his gun . Will he shoot any of them , apprehension , for the sharp crack of a rifle startled her more than the loudest thunder-clap she ever heard . `` Bless you , no , child ; it 's only powder to make a noise and scare 'em . I would n't like to be in his place , though ; father says you can never trust tigers as you can lions , no matter how tame they are . Sly fellers , like cats , and when they scratch it 's no joke , I tell you , '' answered Ben , with a knowing wag of the head , as the sides of the cage rattled down , and the poor , fierce creatures were seen leaping and snarling as if they resented this display of their captivity . Bab curled up her feet and winked fast with excitement as she watched the `` shiny man '' fondle the great cats , lie down among them , pull open their red mouths , and make them leap over him or crouch at his feet as he snapped the long whip . When he fired the gun and they all fell as if dead , she with difficulty suppressed a small scream and clapped her hands over her ears ; but poor Billy never minded it a bit , for he was pale and quaking with the fear of `` heaven 's artillery '' thundering overhead , and as a bright flash of lightning seemed to run down the tall tent-poles he hid his eyes and wished with all his heart that he was safe with mother . `` Afraid of thunder , Bill ? '' asked Ben , trying to speak stoutly , while a sense of his own responsibilities began to worry him , for how was Bab to be got home in such a pouring rain ? `` It makes me sick ; always did . Wish I had n't come , '' sighed Billy , feeling , all too late , that lemonade and `` lozengers '' were not the fittest food for man , or a stifling tent the best place to be in on a hot July day , especially in a thunder-storm . `` I did n't ask you to come ; you asked me ; so it is n't my fault , '' said Ben , rather gruffly , as people crowded by without pausing to hear the comic song the clown was singing in spite of the confusion . `` Oh , I 'm so tired , '' groaned Bab , getting up with a long stretch of arms and legs . `` You 'll be tireder before you get home , I guess .
Nobody asked you to Come , any way ; '' and XXXXX gazed dolefully round him , wishing he could see a familiar face or find a wiser head than his own to help him out of the scrape he was in .
Bab Ben Billy left lightning lozengers thunder-clap thunder-storm tireder wag