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The Pall Mall Gazette 18 September.The Escaped WolfPerilous Adventure of Our InterviewerInterview with the Keeper in the Zoological GardensAfter many inquiries and almost as many refusals, and perpetually using the words PALL MALL GAZETTE as a sort of talisman, I managed to find the keeper of the section of the Zoological Gardens in which the wold department is included. Thomas Bilder lives in one of the cottages in the enclosure behind the elephant house, and was just sitting down to his tea when I found him. Thomas and his wife are hospitable folk, elderly, and without children, and if the specimen I enjoyed of their hospitality be of the average kind, their lives must be pretty comfortable. The keeper would not enter on what he called business until the supper was over, and we were all satisfied. Then when the table was cleared, and he had lit his pipe, he said, Now, Sir, you can go on and arsk me what you want. Youll excoose me refoosin to talk of perfeshunal subjucts afore meals. I gives the wolves and the jackals and the hyenas in all our section their tea afore I begins to arsk them questions. How do you mean, ask them questions? I queried, wishful to get him into a talkative humor. Ittin of them over the ead with a pole is one way. Scratchin of their ears in another, when gents as is flush wants a bit of a show-orf to their gals. I dont so much mind the fust, the ittin of the pole part afore I chucks in their dinner, but I waits till theyve ad their sherry and kawffee,so to speak,afore I tries on with the ear scratchin. Mind you, he added philosophically, theres a deal of the same nature in us as in them theer animiles. Heres you a-comin and arskin of me questions about my business, and I that grump-like that only for your bloomin arf-quid Id a seen you blowed fust fore Id answer. Not even when you arsked me sarcastic like if Id like you to arsk the Superintendent if you might arsk me questions. Without offence did I tell yer to go to ell? You did. An when you said youd report me for usin obscene language that was ittin me over the ead. But the arf-quid made that all right. I werent a-goin to fight, so I waited for the food, and did with my owl as the wolves and lions and tigers does. But, lor love yer art, now that the old ooman has stuck a chunk of her tea-cake in me, an rinsed me out with her bloomin old teapot,and Ive lit hup, you may scratch my ears for all youre worth, and wont even get a growl out of me. Drive along with your questions. I know what yer a-comin at, that ere escaped wolf. Exactly. I want you to give me your view of it. Just tell me how it happened, and when I know the facts Ill get you to say what you consider was the cause of it, and how you think the whole affair will end. All right, guvnor. This ere is about the ole story. Thatere wolf what we called Bersicker was one of three gray ones that came from Norway to Jamrachs, which we bought off him four years ago. He was a nice well-behaved wolf, that never gave no trouble to talk of. Im more surprised at im for wantin to get out nor any other animile in the place. But, there, you cant trust wolves no more nor women. Dont you mind him, Sir! broke in Mrs. Tom, with a cheery laugh. Es got mindin the animiles so long that blest if he aint like a old wolf isself! But there aint no arm in im. Well, Sir, it was about two hours after feedin yesterday when I first hear my disturbance. I was makin up a litter in the monkey house for a young puma which is ill. But when I heard the yelpin and owlin I kem away straight. There was Bersicker a-tearin like a mad thing at the bars as if he wanted to get out. |
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