"Nor are they. This lion belongs to a circus. He escaped only half an hour ago, and I am in pursuit of him." "Are you connected with the circus?" "Yes. My brother and I own it. We want to recover the lion, for he cost us a large sum of money." "But suppose you meet him—won't you be in danger?" "No. Any one else would; but I am his keeper, and he is afraid of me." Gerald looked at him in curiosity. He could not understand how any one could gain such power over a lion. "In what direction did the lion go?" Gerald pointed eastward. "I suppose, then, there is nothing to do but wait till he comes back." "I would rather not wait. You may have power over the lion, but I have not." "Then you can push on to the village; I will wait here." "How far is it?" "Rather more than a mile." "But if the lion should overtake me, I should be in a bad case." "I'll tell you what you may do. You may take my horse, and I will stay here. Go to the hotel and say that I sent you." "What name shall I use?" "King. I am Paul King, and I belong to King Brothers' Circus." "I don't like to deprive you of your horse." "It is of no consequence. If Nero comes back I can meet him just as well alone." "Do you think he will come back?" "Aye. Look!" he added, with excitement, "there he is!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXX THE CIRCUS SPEEDING toward them came the big beast, lashing his sides with his tail, evidently in a state of great excitement. Gerald trembled as he saw him. There are few, whatever their courage, who would not do so. He did not dare to set out on the way to the village. He thought it better to remain with the lion's keeper and under his protection. Paul King stood calm and imperturbable, waiting the arrival of his lost charge. There was a time when he, too, would have fled, but he had become used to lions and their ways, and felt perfect confidence in his power to subdue them. As Nero came nearer, Gerald could see that his jaws were bloody. He guessed that the blood was that of his ill-fated horse. "He has killed your horse, sure enough," said King. "Was he valuable?" "I paid a hundred dollars for him." "He wasn't insured against lions?" "No." "I am sorry for your loss." "I shall not mind that if I save my own life." "Your life is in no danger." By this time the lion was almost upon them. He looked terrible, with the blood-stains about his jaws, but Paul King's equanimity was not shaken. One thing, however, he failed to consider, and that was the effect of blood upon the savage brute. Great as was his ascendency over Nero, the savage instinct of the great animal destroyed the effect of years of discipline. Paul King understood this when Nero advanced upon him, unheeding his tone of command.