"That man is going to take another shot!" cried Shep as he saw a gun raised.
"And there goes the lion!" cried Snap as the form of the animal arose swiftly in the air. With grace and precision the lord of the animal 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.