a crash it slid closed,
and the great beast was a prisoner once more!

The lion whirled like lightning and dashed himself madly against the
restraining bars, but the cage had been built with an eye to
emergencies, and stood the strain without any sign of weakening. Finally
the lion's ragings subsided, and the head trainer concluded it was safe
to descend and complete the work. He expressed himself accordingly, and
everybody swarmed down to the ground, and surrounded the cage, taking
care, however, to keep at a respectful distance.

"All right, boys, get busy," sang out Mr. Burton. "Let's get this cage
up against the wagon as soon as we can. We're behind our schedule as it
is."

Long poles were thrust under the cage, and with a good deal of heaving
and tugging the lion was lifted through the air and his temporary cage
placed alongside the animal wagon. When it had been securely fastened,
the door was opened, and Leo was at liberty to enter his old abode. At
first he seemed disinclined to do so, but after much coaxing and
prodding he was persuaded. The door of his old cage was slammed shut,
and the capture had been effected.

"Well!" exclaimed the trainer, drawing a long sigh of relief, "that's a
good job well done. And I want to thank you lads," he continued, turning
to where our three friends were standing; "the circus owes you a big
debt of gratitude, and that's a fact. If ever any of you should be out
of a job, there'll always be one waiting for you with our outfit."

"Thanks," smiled Bert, speaking for his comrades and himself, "if we
ever do, we'll let you know. We've had quite an adventure out of this,
anyway."

"I should say you had!" said Mr. Burton; "the chances are you'll never
be in another lion hunt as long as you live."

After a few more words the trainer turned away, and the party proceeded
in the direction of the town. At its outskirts our three comrades said
farewell and made off toward college.

On the way they discussed the exciting happenings of the previous day
and night, but as they reached the campus Bert said: "Well, fellows, I
hadn't noticed it much before, but now I come to think of it, I'm
mighty tired. I think I'll turn in and sleep until about supper time."

The others also expressed themselves as "all in," and sought their beds,
where slumber was not long in coming.

CHAPTER VIII

ON THE TOBOGGAN

"MISFORTUNES never come singly," groaned Tom.

"It never rains but it