"Although I am rather puny myself, boys, with this neat little
contrivance I could fairly well hold my own against man or
beast," he modestly averred.

"A modern David," gravely added Bruno, while Waldo chimed in
with:

"What a dandy Jack the Giant-killer you would have been, uncle
Phaeton, if you had only lived in the good old days! I wish--and
yet I don't, either! Of course, it might have been jolly old
sport right then, but now,--where'd I be, to-day?"

"A day on which has happened a miracle far more marvellous than
all that has been set down in fairyland romance, my dear son,"
earnestly spoke the professor. "And when the astounding truth
shall have been published, broadcast, throughout all Christendom,
what praises--"

"How thoroughly we shall be branded liars, and falsificationers
from 'way up the crick'!" exploded the youngster, making a wry
grimace and moving on to view the headless lion from a different
standpoint.

"He means well, uncle Phaeton," assured Bruno, in lowered tones.
"He would not knowingly hurt your feelings, sir, but--may I speak
out?"

"Why not?" quickly. "Surely I am not one to stand in awe of,
lad?"