Others were now taking up the cry, and in a very few minutes men,
women and children were hurrying in all directions to get out of the
way of the beast. Some said it was one lion, and some said five or
six, and everybody was thoroughly scared.

"We'll be eat up alive!" shrieked one lady. "Come, Bess!" And she
took her little girl by the hand and ran for home, slamming and
locking the door after her.

Soon everybody was running for shelter, and in a twinkling the
doors of stores and houses were tightly closed, and windows followed.
The majority of the people went to the upper floors of their dwellings
and peered forth anxiously to catch sight of whatever might be roaming
the streets waiting to devour them.

"If a lion is really at large it will certainly make things
interesting," observed Snap. "But maybe it's only a scare."

"I hope it is," answered Giant. "Excuse me from brushing up against
a real, bloodthirsty lion!" And he moved toward the Carson home, the
others following.

"What is it, boys?" asked Shep's aunt, coming out on the piazza. "What
is all the noise about?"

"They say a lion got loose from the circus," answered her nephew.

"Mercy on us!" ejaculated the lady, and turned pale. "Come in the
house this minute, before you are all eat up!"