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.

CHAPTER VI

SOMETHING ABOUT A CHIMPANZEE

It was well that that honeysuckle vine was growing there and that it gave way slowly after Snap grasped it, for otherwise the two boys might have suffered some broken bones.  As it was, Snap bumped his shoulder severely and scraped his ear on the sand of the path that ran around the side of the house.

Poor Giant was unconscious, and even in that perilous moment Snap realized that his little chum had been hit by some of the shot from the gun.  Whether the lad was dangerously wounded or not remained to be seen.

The two boys had fallen inside the dooryard, which was separated from the street by a low fence.  Hardly did they land when Snap scrambled up, dragging Giant with him.

“The front door!  The front door!” yelled Shep from above.  “We’ll let you in!” And then he leaped through the window and tore down the stairs four steps at a time, with Whopper at his heels.

As Snap turned and looked out into the street he saw a sight calculated to daunt the stoutest heart.  The lion was there, standing erect, with bristling mane, glaring fiercely at him.

“Get away!” the boy yelled, not knowing what else to do.  “Get away!” And then he picked up a whitewashed stone, one of a number bordering the garden path.  With all his might he threw it at the lion and caught the beast in the head.  The animal turned, slunk along the fence, and disappeared behind a tree in front of the next house.

The moment the animal turned away, Snap moved toward the piazza.  He had Giant in one of his arms, and in his excitement did not notice the weight of his burden.  As he ascended the steps the door was flung open and Shep appeared.  Then Whopper showed himself, armed with an umbrella he had snatched from the hall rack.

“Where’s the lion?” asked the doctor’s son.

“Behind the tree!” gasped Snap, and then he literally fell into the hallway with Giant still in his arm.  At once the door was closed and locked again.

“Was Giant shot?” queried Whopper, as he threw down the umbrella.

“Yes,” answered Snap.  “Make a light,” he added, for the hallway was in total darkness.

Mrs. Carson was still upstairs, while the hired girl in her fright had fled to the garret, so the boys had to stumble around until Shep found a match and lit the lamp.  Whopper and Snap carried Giant into the sitting-room and placed him on a sofa.  As they did this the small youth opened his eyes and stared around wildly.