CHAPTER IV

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

Blake’s ringing words caused no little excitement in the car--excitement that was already intense, owing to the crash of the wreck.

“What’s that you said?” cried Mr. Duncan, for there was so much confusion that Blake’s words did not carry clearly.

“We’ve struck a circus train,” replied the boy. “Not a bad smash, I guess, for I don’t see many cars piled up. But a lot of the animals are out.”

“I knew it!” cried C. C. Piper. “I knew something would happen! If I don’t drown I’m saved to be eaten by a lion! Oh, why did I ever go into this business?”

“Is there any danger, Blake?” cried Mr. Duncan, coming to the side of his son’s chum, as Blake was looking out of the window. “Can you see if anyone is hurt?”

“No--none, though some of the animals seem to be killed. Joe, come on out and----”

He was interrupted by a roar, unmistakably that of a lion.

“Oh!” screamed Miss Lee. “That’s a jungle beast, sure! Even though it wasn’t a snake I saw, that’s a lion.”

“Yes, it’s a lion,” said Blake, withdrawing his head from the window; “but it’s in a cage. They’re running it off one of the smashed flat cars. The lion can’t get out, Miss Lee.”

“Thank goodness for that!” she exclaimed. “Oh, I’m so frightened.”

The chorus of uncouth sounds kept up, but seemed to be lessening. Those in the car picked themselves up from the places whither they had been tossed. No one seemed to be much hurt, though C. C. was wiping blood from a cut on his hand.

“It’s all right!” cried a brakeman, entering the private car at that moment. “It wasn’t a bad crash. None of the passengers is killed.”

“Are the lions and tigers loose?” asked Miss Shay.

“I--I guess not,” said the brakeman, but the boys noticed that he appeared ill at ease. “You’re to stay in here,” he added. “We may bring some other passengers in here, as one of our cars is badly smashed.”

“Bring ’em all in!” exclaimed Mr. Ringold. “There’s plenty of room, and I’m something of a doctor. We’ve got a first-aid kit here.”

“All right--thanks,” spoke the brakeman, as he hurried out, and Blake noticed that he took care to shut the door after him. To the boy this meant something.

Blake looked toward the crack in the roof, through which the elephant had thrust its trunk. The big beast was no longer in evidence. Miss Lee, too, glanced nervously in the same direction. Blake had a sudden inspiration.

“Joe!” he exclaimed, in a whisper, when he saw that there was no need for their assistance in the theatrical car. “I’ve got a dandy scheme.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s film this wreck.”

“Film it?” asked Joe, who seemed somewhat dazed from the shock of the accident.

“Yes, it will make some dandy moving pictures. A wrecked circus train, with some of the animals loose--the men trying to catch them--come on, let’s get some views. One of our machines is in this car.”

“That’s right--I wish we had all three of them here,” for the lads owned three--two worked by hand, and one an automatic, operated by a portable compressed air motor. But this, as well as one of the hand machines, was with their baggage sent on ahead.

“Come on!” cried Blake. “No time to lose. They’ll get the beasts back in their cages as soon as they can.”

“That’s so,” agreed his chum. “But if there are lions and tigers loose, Blake----”

“I don’t believe there are,” spoke Blake, quickly. “I didn’t see any when I looked; but, if there are, the beasts will be too dazed to make any trouble. Come on.”

“I’m with you!” cried Joe, and they got out their camera.

“What are you going to do?” asked Mr. Ringold, who was binding up a cut on Miss Shay’s arm.

“Get some moving pictures of this.”

“Good for you!” the theatrical manager cried. “Maybe I can work ’em in some of my dramas.”

Joe and Blake were soon outside the car. A scene of confusion met their eyes, but it was not as bad as they had anticipated. The collision was what is known as a “side-swipe”--that is, the circus train stood on a siding, but not far enough beyond the switch, when the passenger train rushed by it and hit the other a glancing blow.

As it was, the passenger engine was damaged, as was the first car, and the next one--that on which our friends were. But the jar to the circus train had thrown some of the cages off the flat cars and broken them. Also a box car, containing a number of the elephants, had been smashed, as well as one containing some camels. A few of the animals had been killed.

“Lively work!” cried Blake, as he and his chum took in the scene.

“Yes, they’re trying to catch ’em all,” agreed Joe. “Set the camera here,” and he indicated a piece of elevated ground.

The circus men were rushing here and there, under the directions of someone who was evidently the manager. Sacred cows, crooked-neck camels and some ponies were being caught and driven back into one of the undamaged cars. The elephants were seemingly the easiest to handle, though they showed a disposition to wander.

“Drive ’em over this way!” yelled the circus man. “I’ll have heavy damages out of this railroad company, or my name isn’t Harry Stone. The idea of smashing my outfit this way! Hi there! Don’t let that pony get away! It’s one of our best trick performers. Lasso him, if you have to!”

The circus men rushed up to an elephant that was about to take a stroll across the tracks and off into the open country. By hard work they succeeded in turning him back. A camel showed signs of fight, but was subdued.

Joe and Blake were getting a fine lot of films, but they had to work quickly, for the circus men, with the speed that is characteristic of them, were rapidly getting order out of chaos and putting the animals back in the cars or cages. Where the vehicles were damaged the animals were doubled up.

A lion cage on a wrecked flat car was being eased off by means of ropes and pulley, the tawny beast inside giving vent to his displeasure in growls and roars.

“Some class to this film; eh?” cried Joe.

“That’s right,” agreed his chum. “I’m sorry for the trouble, and for the hurt animals, and I’m glad none of the folks was killed, but it sure is a dandy chance for us.”

“Look!” suddenly cried Joe. “That lion cage has gotten away from ’em!”

As he spoke, Blake saw the cage beginning to run rapidly down the planks that had been laid to get it from the car to the ground. A rope had broken.

“Hold it!” cried the circus man.

But it was too late. With a rumble and crash the cage slid down to the ground, struck some obstruction, and the next moment toppled over on its side. There was a splintering of wood, a door flew open, and the big lion bounded out with a roar of defiance.

“Wow!” cried Joe. “Look at that!”

“A great chance!” exclaimed Blake, coolly. “We’ll film him!” and he proceeded to grind away at the crank as if he were making views of a most peaceful scene.

There came a scream from the direction of the theatrical car, and Joe, looking, saw a number of ladies scrambling for the doors. The sight of the freed lion had been too much for them.

There was a scattering of the circus men, too, at the sight of the tawny beast standing near the broken cage and lashing its sides with its tufted tail.

“Get after him, boys!” cried the circus manager.

“Not for mine!” replied several.

“Cowards vot you are!” cried a new voice, and through the widening circle of wagon handlers stalked a man--evidently a German animal trainer. He carried a long whip, which he cracked viciously. At the snap the lion winced.

“Down, King!” cried the man. “Down!”

Once more the lion cringed, and then began to whimper.

“You see how gentle he is--cowards vot you are!” sneered the man.

He approached the great beast fearlessly, the lion, with shifting eyes, meanwhile following the man.

“I lead him,” went on the German. “There iss no harm in King; is dere, olt fellow?” and he actually patted the head of the great beast.

“Good, Herr Kilngert!” cried the manager. “Now you men bring up an empty cage,” and when it was rolled near the lion, the trainer actually led the beast in by its mane.

“See, cowards vot you are!” he sneered at the men, as he shut the door after him, leaving the lion to raise its voice in a mournful groan at losing the short liberty it had enjoyed.

“This is great!” cried Joe.

“The best ever,” asserted his chum.

The work of caring for the liberated animals went on rapidly. Only a few were loose now, and none of them dangerous. Still the scene was a lively one, for the railroad men were busy, and the boys made nearly a thousand-foot reel of it all, the camera, fortunately, having been fully loaded.

Just then the circus manager noticed them, and started in some surprise.

“What are you fellows doing?” he asked, striding toward them.

“Filming this wreck,” replied Blake, calmly.

“Making moving pictures; eh?”

“That’s it,” said Joe, looking to see how much film remained to expose.

“Did you get that lion scene?”

“We did.”

“Did; eh? Well, you’ve got pluck, all right. I wouldn’t want everybody to know it, but that’s one of the most dangerous lions in captivity. He’s killed several of his keepers, and only this German seems able to manage him. No wonder the men held back. And so you filmed him; eh?”

“Oh, we’re used to thrills,” said Blake, with a smile, as the last of the film was reeled off.

“So I should judge,” observed the circus man. “Say,” he went on, “I’ve been looking for some young fellows with nerve, and I guess I’ve found ’em. How would you like to go into the circus business?”

“I’m afraid we can’t consider it,” spoke Joe. “We have something else on hand. We leave for Africa in about a week.”

“What for; to get pictures?”

“No, to get my sister, who is a missionary helper there.”

“To Africa!” exclaimed the circus man. “Say, this is just the opportunity I’ve been looking for! Boys, I’ve got a great proposition to lay before you. I’ll see you in a little while--just as soon as I can straighten things out. Hi there!” he called, suddenly. “Don’t let that elephant hurt that camel. Separate ’em, men! Lively there!” and he rushed over to where the two animals seemed on the point of coming to a clash.