“That’s right. And when Miss Lee yelled ‘Snake!’ I didn’t know what to make of it.” “Thought it was a sort of nightmare; eh?” “That’s about it.” The boys found the excitement much lessened when they got back to their car. It was occupied by a number of other passengers from the rest of the train, most of them women, but with a few men, who seemed a bit uneasy. The women made no effort to disguise their nervousness. “Are all--ahem! are all the wild--that is to say--is there any more danger, young men?” asked a portly gentleman, as Blake and Joe entered the car. “No, the only animals loose now are a camel and an elephant, and the men will soon have them back in the train,” replied Joe. “Ah! I am glad to hear that,” replied the man. “I--er--was just going out to offer my services. I used to be somewhat of a hunter, but--er--if they are all captured there is no need of my going----” “Don’t you dare go, Henry!” cried a little woman, clinging to his coat tails. “I don’t want you all chewed up by a lion. Don’t you dare to leave me.” “I--I won’t, Martha,” he answered. “I’ll stay and protect you.” “Humph!” exclaimed C. C. “I guess there was not much danger of Henry going--not yet.” Several of the men from the other cars looked relieved at the news the boys brought in, and soon, having ascertained by observation that no animals, save a few horses, were loose, they left, taking their women folk with them. “I guess they used this car as a sort of haven of refuge, while the animals were loose,” observed Mr. Hadley, while Blake and Joe put away their camera. “That’s right,” remarked Mr. Duncan, who had gone outside to see Joe and his chum operate the machine. “That’s why the railroad men wanted those people to come in here. It’s a steel car and safe from attack.” “There wasn’t any danger,” declared Blake. “The lion was the only dangerous one, and his trainer made him as meek as a lamb. It was a wonderful exhibition.” “That’s right,” agreed Joe. “Once more our hoodoo--of something always happening--seems to have us in charge. I hope it will keep right on until we get to Africa and find Jessie. That would be the best luck ever.” “Indeed, it would,” agreed his father. The work of clearing away the wreck went on rapidly. Fortunately, the smash had taken place near a small way station, and men from it, as well as inhabitants of a nearby town, came out to lend their aid. As it happened, only the rear end of the circus train had been hit, a few cars being smashed. Of course, the jar and crash, however, had been communicated all along the length of it. The passenger engine was considerably damaged, as was the baggage car and the coach directly behind it, but the locomotive could still be used, though not for great speed. An examination of the baggage of the theatrical troupe showed it had suffered only a little, none of the moving picture cameras having been damaged.