hep.

"That pit is just beyond here," said the doctor's son. "We'd better
go slow---in case that lion hasn't been caught and is at large."

The others took the advice and advanced with caution. A fringe
of brushwood hid the pit from view. On the other side of the
clearing was a dense forest of pines and hemlocks.

"Well, I never!"

It was the doctor's son who uttered the exclamation. He was slightly
in advance and had peered over the bushes.

"What is it?" asked Snap in a low tone.

"Look, but don't make any noise."

Snap and Whopper pressed forward and looked. What they saw thrilled
them greatly.

On the edge of the pit was a fair-sized black bear. He was sniffing
at the carcass of the wildcat that rested on the tree branches laid
over the mouth of the opening.

"A chance for a fine shot!" whispered Giant a bit nervously.

"Wait---we'll get a picture first!" said the doctor's son. "But
keep quiet!"

The others understood, and, hardly daring to breathe, the three lads
swung their cameras into position, got them ready for use, and
spread out among the bushes to take some snapshots.

The bear was a cautious animal and slowly he circled the pit,
sniffing longingly at the carcass so close at hand. Evidently he
desired a meat diet for a change and wanted to get the wildcat very
much, but did not quite trust the tree branches and what might
be underneath.

Each of the lads got what he thought was a good picture, and then
Snap and Giant looked at Shep and touched their guns. But the
doctor's son did not see them, for he was looking wildly at something
between the trees on the other side of the clearing.

"What do you see?" whispered Snap.

"Hush!" answered the doctor's son. "Look for yourself."

Snap and Giant gazed in the direction pointed out, and it must be
confessed that the hair of the smaller youth literally rose on end.
There, between two trees, crouched the lion that had escaped from
the circus. The eyes of the monarch of the forest were fastened
on the bear, and his tail was swaying from side to side, showing
that he was getting ready for a leap.

"Shall we---we shoot?" asked Snap. He was so agitated he could
hardly speak.

"Why not take a picture?" asked Shep, who had his camera still in
his hand.

"All right---but we don't want that lion to---to come this way."

"Not much!" put in Giant, and it must be confessed that his voice
trembled a good deal. To face a deer or even a be