world cleared the back fence of the yard and crouched down in the
street, close to a tree.

"He's heading this way!" burst out the doctor's son. "Maybe we had
better get indoors."

"Oh, he can't leap up here," insisted Giant, who was brave, even
though small.

"We'll take no chances," was Shep's answer. "Come."

He turned to the window, and so did Snap and Whopper. At that
minute one of the men came around the corner of the street. The
lion leaped from behind the tree into the roadway. Pulling up his
gun, the man banged away wildly, for he was nervous and frightened.

"Oh!" came in a groan from Giant, and his chums saw him stagger.

"What is it?" asked Snap quickly. But instead of answering the
small youth staggered around the piazza top.

"Giant is shot!" gasped Whopper. "Catch him! He is falling off
the roof!"

Snap made a quick leap forward and caught Giant around the waist.
Both were now on the slanting portion of the piazza roof. Snap
did what he could to stay their progress, but it was in vain, and
the next instant both boys slipped down over the edge. Snap
clutched at a honeysuckle vine growing there, but it gave way, and
a moment later the two boys rolled to the ground.