“Good, Herr Kilngert!” cried the manager. “Now you men bring up an empty cage,” and when it was rolled near the lion, the trainer actually led the beast in by its mane. “See, cowards vot you are!” he sneered at the men, as he shut the door after him, leaving the lion to raise its voice in a mournful groan at losing the short liberty it had enjoyed. “This is great!” cried Joe. “The best ever,” asserted his chum. The work of caring for the liberated animals went on rapidly. Only a few were loose now, and none of them dangerous. Still the scene was a lively one, for the railroad men were busy, and the boys made nearly a thousand-foot reel of it all, the camera, fortunately, having been fully loaded. Just then the circus manager noticed them, and started in some surprise. “What are you fellows doing?” he asked, striding toward them. “Filming this wreck,” replied Blake, calmly. “Making moving pictures; eh?” “That’s it,” said Joe, looking to see how much film remained to expose. “Did you get that lion scene?” “We did.” “Did; eh? Well, you’ve got pluck, all right. I wouldn’t want everybody to know it, but that’s one of the most dangerous lions in captivity. He’s killed several of his keepers, and only this German seems able to manage him. No wonder the men held back. And so you filmed him; eh?” “Oh, we’re used to thrills,” said Blake, with a smile, as the last of the film was reeled off. “So I should judge,” observed the circus man. “Say,” he went on, “I’ve been looking for some young fellows with nerve, and I guess I’ve found ’em. How would you like to go into the circus business?” “I’m afraid we can’t consider it,” spoke Joe. “We have something else on hand. We leave for Africa in about a week.” “What for; to get pictures?” “No, to get my sister, who is a missionary helper there.” “To Africa!” exclaimed the circus man. “Say, this is just the opportunity I’ve been looking for! Boys, I’ve got a great proposition to lay before you. I’ll see you in a little while--just as soon as I can straighten things out. Hi there!” he called, suddenly. “Don’t let that elephant hurt that camel. Separate ’em, men! Lively there!” and he rushed over to where the two animals seemed on the point of coming to a clash. CHAPTER V OFF FOR AFRICA “What sort of an offer do you think he’s going to make us, Blake?” asked Joe, as they finished the films of the circus wreck, and began taking their camera apart. “I haven’t the least idea, unless he wants to buy a reel of these pictures to show in his circus; and yet I don’t see how he can do that very well.” “Oh, if he wants to buy a reel, I suppose we can sell it to him, after we run off some positives.” “Sure, we’re in that business. But let’s get back and see what the chances are for moving. The wreck isn’t as bad as I feared it was.” “No, and a good thing, too.” “I sure thought it was all up with us, when that crash came,” went on Blake. “It sounded like the end of everything.”