Meanwhile Fred Sheldon had become involved in anything but a pleasant experience.  
There might be mistakes ludicrous and otherwise in the case of others, but when he saw the animal in the lane before him, as revealed by the rays of the moon, there was no error.
 
It was the identical lion that had escaped from the menagerie the day previous, and the beast must have noted the presence of the terrified lad, who stopped such a short distance from him.
 
Master Fred was so transfixed that he did not stir for a few seconds, and then it seemed to him that the best thing he could do was to turn about and run, and yell with might and main, just as he did some weeks before when he stepped into a yellow-jackets' nest.
 
It is hard to understand how the yelling helps a boy when caught in such a dilemma, but we know from experience that it is easier to screech at the top of one's voice, as you strike at the insects that settle about your head, than it is to concentrate all your powers in the single act of running.
 
Almost unconsciously, Fred began stepping backward, keeping his gaze fixed upon the lion as he did so. If[Pg 98] the latter was aware of the stratagem, which is sometimes used with advantage by the African hunter, he did not immediately seek to thwart it, but continued facing him, and occasionally swaying his tail, accompanied by low, thunderous growls.
 
The boys of the school had learned a great deal of natural history within the last day or two, and Fred had read about the king of beasts. He knew that a lion could crouch on his belly, and, with one prodigious bound, pass over the intervening space.
 
The lad was afraid the one before him meant to act according to the instincts of his nature, and he retreated more rapidly, until all at once he whirled about and ran for dear life, directly toward the highway.
 
He did not shout, though, if he had seen any other person, he would have called for help; but, when he reached the road, he cast a glance over his shoulder, expecting to feel the horrible claws at the same instant.
 
The lion was invisible. Fred could scarcely believe his eyes; but such was the fact.
 
"I don't understand him," was the conclusion of the boy, who kept moving further away, scarcely daring to believe in his own escape even for a few brief minutes.
 
Fred had been too thoroughly scared to wish to meet the lion again, but he wanted to get back to the house that the Misses Perkinpine could be told of the new danger which threatened them.
 
"I think they'll be more likely to believe me than night before last," said the lad to himself.
 
But nothing could tempt him to venture along the lane again after such an experience.
 
[Pg 99]
 
It was easy enough to reach the house by a long detour, but the half belief that the lion was lurking in the vicinity made the effort anything but assuring.
 
However, Fred Sheldon thought it his duty to let his good friends know the new peril to which they were subject, in the event of venturing out of doors.
 
So slow and stealthy was his next approach to the building that nearly an hour passed before he found himself in the small yard surrounding the house; but, when once there, he hastened to the front door and gave such a resounding knock with the old-fashioned brass knocker that it could have been heard a long distance away, on the still summer night.
 
It seemed a good while to Fred before the bolt was withdrawn, and Aunt Annie appeared in her cap and spectacles.
 
"Oh, it's you, Fred, is it?" she exclaimed with pleasure, when she recognized the young man who was so welcome at all times. "You are so late that we had given you up, and were going to retire."
 
"I started early enough, but it seems to me as if every sort of awful thing is after us," replied Fred, as he hastily followed the lady into the dining-room, where the sisters began preparing the meal for which the visitor, like all urchins of his age, was ready at any time.
 
"What's the matter now, Freddy?" asked Aunt Lizzie.
 
"Why, you had a tramp after you night before last, and now you've got a big, roaring lion."
 
[Pg 100]
 
"A what?" asked the two in amazement, for they had not heard a syllable of the exciting incident of the day before.
 
"Why, there's a lion that broke out of the menagerie yesterday, and they haven't been able to catch him yet."
 
"Land sakes alive!" gasped Aunt Annie, sinking into a chair and raising her hands, "what is t............