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Excerpted Inspirations #230

  • Writer: Linda Odhner, with photos by Liz Kufs
    Linda Odhner, with photos by Liz Kufs
  • 7 days ago
  • 0 min read
[After helping to rescue his sister and adopted siblings from the tower where they have been imprisoned with the young crown prince of Tauri-Hessia (long story!), Jack brings the others back to the circus where he has been hiding. He hopes that Philip, who has a way with animals, can tame the circus bears, who broke out of their cage after their trainer, Fank, fell ill.] “Where can I get some meat?” panted Philip as they ran across the field toward the bears. “Or better still, can I get honey anywhere – or treacle?” “Treacle! Yes, Ma’s got a whole jar of it,” said Jack, remembering. “I’ll get it.” [...] Jack found the big stone jar and fled back to Philip with it. Philip had now gone close to the bears, who turned to look at him suspiciously. “They’ve already injured one man,” said Jack, in a low voice. “Look out, won’t you, Philip?” “I’ll be all right,” said Philip. “Keep out of sight, Jack.” He took the jar of treacle, dipped his hands into it and smeared them up to the wrist with the thick, sweet syrup. Then he walked toward the bears, pouring a little of the sweet syrup out on the grass as he went. The bears growled warningly. Philip turned and went back again. He sat down with the jar of treacle and waited. By now many people were watching. Who was this boy? What was he doing, meddling with two dangerous bears? They watched in fearful curiosity, ready to run at any moment. Jack stood out of sight – but near enough to run to Philip’s help if necessary. He didn’t think it would be necessary; he had absolute faith in Philip’s ability to manage any animal. The bears soon smelt the syrup that Philip had spilt here and there on the grass. They loved the sweetness of treacle. Fank sometimes gave it to them for a treat – and there was nothing they liked better than to have an empty syrup tin given to them, and to be allowed to lick it, and put their great paws inside. They sniffed, and went towards the first spots of treacle on the ground. One bear found them and licked eagerly. The second bear growled at him and tried to push him aside – but suddenly smelt another few spots of treacle further on! He lumbered on clumsily and licked eagerly. As soon as the bears realized that there was treacle about, they began to grunt excitedly. They had refused food for two days now, and they were hungry. They sniffed eagerly for more treacle. The watching people held their breath as they saw the two great clumsy creatures getting nearer and nearer to the boy sitting on the ground. Surely he was in danger? “Who is he? He ought to be warned!” they said. But Toni and Bingo hushed them. “Be quiet! He is Jack’s friend, a wonder with animals! Give him a chance! He can run if the bears threaten him!” Enid Blyton, The Circus of Adventure (1952), pp. 236-239 [Continued next week.]

 
 
 

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