Part 46 (1/2)

”It's a circus wagon,” breathed the lad, recognizing the sound instantly. ”I hope it is the wagon.”

He listened intently, keeping the torches moving, now and then cracking his whip and uttering sharp commands to Wallace.

The animal was growing more and more restless. His wild instincts were returning to him.

The torches were so low, now, that Phil could scarcely see the beast. Then, all at once, he realized that Wallace was creeping toward him unmindful of the lash or of the fading torches.

Phil waited, peering into the shadows. He was not afraid, as he recalled his sensations afterwards; but a strange little thrill seemed to be racing up and down his spinal column.

Then the lad did a daring thing. He sprang forward to meet Wallace. The astonished lion halted for a brief instant, and in that instant the Circus Boy thrust one of the torches full in his face. The flame burned the nose of the king of beasts and singed his brow as well.

Uttering a mighty roar Wallace cleared the floor, springing backwards and landing against the wall with such force as to jar several panes of gla.s.s from the window nearby.

”Phil! Phil! Are you there?” came a hesitating voice from behind the lad. It was the voice of Teddy Tucker on a ladder at one side of the window from which he had jumped earlier in the evening.

”Yes, yes. Be careful. Did you bring them?”

”We've got the cage. Mr. Sparling is here, too. He's half worried to death. What shall we do?”

”Have them draw the cage up in the back yard and back it against the open door. When that's done some of you come upstairs and throw the door open. Be sure to leave a light in the hall, but jump into the room across the hall as soon as you open the door.

Wallace will scent his mate and I'll wager he'll trot right downstairs and jump into his cage. Have someone standing by to close the doors on him. Hurry now. Tell them my torches won't last five minutes longer.”

Teddy slid down the ladder without waiting to place feet or hand on the rungs, and Phil's anxious ears told him the men were drawing the cage around to the rear yard.

Soon he heard footsteps on the back stairs. Wallace was showing new signs of agitation.

”All ready, in there?”

”All ready,” answered Phil.

Teddy jerked the door open and leaping across the hall, shut himself in the room opposite. Wallace paused, his tail beating the wall behind him; then uttering a roar that shook the building, the s.h.a.ggy beast leaped into the hall. There he paused for an instant. One bound took him to the foot of the stairs.

The next landed him in the cage next to his mate. The cage doors closed behind him with a metallic snap.

Wallace was safe.

”Got him!” shouted a voice from below.

Phil drew a long sigh of relief. Someone dashed up the stairs on a run. It was Mr. Sparling. He grabbed Phil Forrest in his arms, hugging him until the dead torches fell to the floor with a clatter and the lad begged to be released.

”My brave Phil, my brave boy!” breathed the showman. ”No one but you could have done a thing like that. You have saved the lives of many people this night, and what is more you have captured the most valuable lion in the world--you and Teddy. I don't know what to say nor how to say it. I--”

”I wouldn't try were I in your place,” grinned Phil. ”I presume you will have to settle with these people for the slight damage that has been done to their house.”

”I'll settle the bills; don't you worry about that.”

”Any more lions lying around loose in here?” questioned Teddy, poking his head in through the open door. ”I and my little club are ready for them if there are.”