NERO
THERE was no time or inclination on his part to speculate upon such an
extraordinary appearance. He felt that his life was in peril, and he
must consider at once whether there was any chance of his saving it.
He was armed with a rifle, which thus far he had had no occasion to use.
He was not unskilled in the use of firearms, and luckily the rifle was
loaded. To use it seemed to be his one chance of safety.
When his horse espied the lion he seemed almost paralyzed with terror.
If the lion had no other claim to be called king of beasts, the terror
which he inspires in all other animals might be taken for a strong
evidence of his royal supremacy. The horse stood stock still, and it
seemed to Gerald that he would remain so till the lion came up. This
being the case, he thought it best to slip off the horse's back and jump
to the ground. It was this act of his, perhaps, that startled the horse
into life and motion. At any rate he set out on a wild run, attaining a
pace probably unprecedented in his history. The animal could not have
rendered his rider a better service. Hitherto the lion's attention had
been divided between the horse and the boy. Now that he saw the horse in
rapid flight, the hunting instinct came to him. More than one have
testified that when they saw a person or animal running they were seized
with an impulse to follow. This was the case with the lion. Apparently
he did not notice Gerald, but, swerving from his course, set out in
pursuit of the horse.
When Gerald noted the fortunate turn that matters had taken, he breathed
a sigh of deep-felt relief. But his relief was only temporary. It might
not be long before the lion would overtake and kill the horse. Then,
inflamed by the sight of blood, he would probably turn back and pursue
the rider.
What could Gerald do?
[Illustration: HIS HORSE STOPPED ON SEEING THE LION]
He turned his eyes toward the distant town. Probably it was only three
miles away, but it might almost as well have been three hundred. Yet to
reach it was his only hope of safety.
He turned and ran toward the town as fast as his legs could carry him.
He soon became scant of breath. The high elevation helped to make him
so. Probably the excitement, too, had its effect.
He had no means of knowing whether the lion had caught up with his
intended victim. Gerald fervently hoped not. The longer the horse could
hold out, the more time he had to get away. He hardly dared to look, for
he felt that even this might take time and so delay him.
He did look up, however, and, to his infinite relief, he discovered that
a horseman was speeding toward him from the town.
He stood still and waited.
The man stopped his horse when he saw Gerald, and asked: "Boy, have you
seen a lion hereabouts?"
The speaker had long hair, and wore a large sombrero, after the fashion
of Buffalo Bill.
"Yes," answered Gerald, as soon as he could get his breath. "I am
running away from him."
"But where is he?"
"In pursuit of my horse."
"But why are you not on your horse? Did he throw you?"
"No; I slipped off his back, and he started off in wild terror, the lion
in pursuit."
"That probably saved your life."
"But how does a lion happen to be in this territory?" asked Gerald, in
curiosity. "I never heard that lions were to be found in Montana."
"Nor are they. This lion belongs to a circus. He escaped only half an
hour ago, and I am in pursuit of him."
"Are you connected with the circus?"
"Yes. My brother and I own it. We want to recover the lion, for he cost
us a large sum of money."
"But suppose you meet him—won't you be in danger?"
"No. Any one else would; but I am his keeper, and he is afraid of me."
Gerald looked at him in curiosity. He could not understand how any one
could gain such power over a lion.
"In what direction did the lion go?"
Gerald pointed eastward.
"I suppose, then, there is nothing to do but wait till he comes back."
"I would rather not wait. You may have power over the lion, but I have
not."
"Then you can push on to the village; I will wait here."
"How far is it?"
"Rather more than a mile."
"But if the lion should overtake me, I should be in a bad case."
"I'll tell you what you may do. You may take my horse, and I will stay
here. Go to the hotel and say that I sent you."
"What name shall I use?"
"King. I am Paul King, and I belong to King Brothers' Circus."
"I don't like to deprive you of your horse."
"It is of no consequence. If Nero comes back I can meet him just as well
alone."
"Do you think he will come back?"
"Aye. Look!" he added, with excitement, "there he is!"
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