Part 45 (2/2)

Phil with eyes fixed upon the lion reached back one hand and tried the door behind him It was locked

”Teddy, don't make any sudden moves,” cautioned Phil in a low voice ”We're locked in Give e over to that openand drop out We can't both try it, or Wallace will be upon us in a flash When you get out, run for the lot Run as you never ran before Get the e here Be careful until you get out Those people have locked us in I shouldn't dare open the door anyway, now, for he'd catch us before we could get out

I know the ways of these tricky cats”

”Phil, he'll kill you!”

”He won't I've got the torches They're the best weapons a ed toward the hile Phil with a stern co the whip and thrusting the torches toward the beast, checked the rush that Wallace seemed about to make

Teddy dropped froan an experience for Phil Forrest that few boys would have had the courage to face

Not for an instant did the Circus Boy lose his presence ofhi to him as he had frequently heard the ani the beast's mind occupied as much as he could

Now and then Wallace would attempt to creep up on Phil, whereupon the lad would start forward thrusting the torches before hiain Wallace was afraid of fire, and under theinto his corner

For a full half hour did Phil Forrest face this deadly peril, cool, collected, his hts, al torches, the sh He did all he could to suppress this, for it disturbed and irritated Wallace, who showed his disapproval by swishi+ng his tail and uttering low, deep growls of resentet nearer thethat heat hi several violent thrusts with the torches, at which Wallace backed away again and crouched lower

Phil saw that the lion was preparing to ju this, the lad held one torch high above his head and kept it swaying there from side to side

Suddenly hedilance at the flames of the torches told him what the trouble was

He dared not let his eyes dwell on the flalare would so blind him that he would not be able to clearly ht of Wallace for a few seconds ht mean a sudden and quick end to Phil Forrest, and he knew it full well

The lad backed a bit closer to the , keeping his torchesthe torches did not observe the action

”The torches are going out,” breathed Phil ”If the folks don't colass and all or Wallace will spring”

Phil was in a desperate situation

CHAPTER XXIV

CONCLUSION

”Down, Wallace! Charge!”

The Circus Boy's whip cracked viciously, while the dying torches for above the lad's head

”I shan't be able to hold hier Wallace knows, as well as I do, that his turn is co in a short tioing to happen Hark! What's that?”

Distant shouts were borne faintly to Phil's ears He listened intently, catching another and welco driven rapidly along the paved street of the town