The huge, tawny beast flicked its tail. A low rumble came rolling like thunder. It came forward another step.
Young Mike shook his head. “Something’s wrong, fellows. George knows me. But he isn’t acting his usual friendly way.”
Slowly, the boy backed away.
The lion came on.
The Three Investigators stood rooted to the ground as inch by inch young Mike Hall retreated before the advancing lion. His voice was still low and friendly but the lion ignored it.
Jupiter Jones was as paralysed with fear as his companions. But his brain was still active. He was puzzled by the lion’s behaviour towards somebody it knew. It gave no sign that it recognised young Mike Hall.
Suddenly Jupe discovered what was wrong. He tried to keep his voice low and not attract the lion’s attention.
“Look at his left foreleg, Mike,” he said. “He’s wounded!”
Mike looked quickly at the lion’s leg. It was covered by a thick film of blood.
“No wonder George isn’t obeying,” said Mike softly. “I’m afraid I’ve got bad news for you guys. A hurt animal is dangerous. I don’t know if I can handle him.”
“You’ve got a rifle,” Bob whispered. “Maybe you ought to shoot.”
“This is only a.22 calibre. It wouldn’t do more than tickle George. It might make him even madder. I just carry it for emergencies, for firing a warning shot.”
The lion took another step forward. The huge beast winced as the bloody leg took its weight. Its mouth opened in a twisting snarl.
The Three Investigators inched backward to the gum tree. Mike saw their movement and shook his head.
“Don’t try it, fellows,” he cautioned. “He’d be on you before you got one leg up.”
“Okay, Mike,” said Jupe. “But why not fire a warning shot? Wouldn’t that scare George off?”
Mike smiled grimly. “Not a chance. He’s got his head down. That means his mind is made up and nothing is going to change it.” He bit his lip. “I just wish my Uncle Jim was here.”
A soft whistle trilled from the high grass. Abruptly a tall, bronzed man stepped out.
“You’ve got your wish, Mike,” he said dryly. “Now nobody moves, nobody talks except me, understand?”
The man stepped lithely forward. “Now, Georgie, what’s going on here?” he asked pleasantly.
The words were spoken in a light, conversational tone. They had their effect. The lion turned its head towards the man. Its long tail flicked. Then, cocking its head, it opened its jaws and roared.
The tall man nodded. “I see,” he said softly. “You’re hurt. Is that it?”
Then to the amazement of the boys, he strode up to the lion and took its huge head in his hands.
“Come on, George,” he said. “Let’s have a look at it.”
The lion opened its jaws again. The expected roar became a moaning sound instead. Slowly it extended its bleeding leg.
“Oh, it’s your leg, is it?” asked Jim Hall. “Okay, old fellow, take it easy. I’ll take care of it for you.”
He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and bent to one knee. Deftly, he bandaged the wound, his face dangerously close to the lion’s jaws.
The lion stood patiently as Jim Hall knotted the handkerchief. The man rose. He rubbed the lion’s ears and twisted his mane. Then, affectionately, he pounded the beast’s shoulders.
“There you are, George — almost as good as new.”
Smiling, he turned away. The lion’s voice rumbled in its thick throat. Its muscles quivered. Then suddenly there was a quick, blurring yellow movement. Instantly Jim Hall was down, the lion upon him.
“Look out!” Pete cried.
The Three Investigators looked on in horror as the man writhed under the weight of the big jungle cat.
Jupe turned to Mike Hall. The boy was watching calmly, a slight smile on his lips. Jupe couldn’t understand. “Do something!” he shouted.
“Use your gun, Mike!” Bob yelled.
Mike Hall lifted his hand. “It’s nothing to worry about, fellows. They’re only playing. George was brought up by Jim and loves him.”
“But —” Jupe started to say. His eyes bugged out as he saw the huge lion thrown aside by Jim Hall. With a ferocious snarling sound, it lashed back, wrapping its forelegs around the man’s shoulders. It opened its jaws wide, its large teeth inches from the man’s face.
Unbelievably, Jim Hall laughed!
He braced to confront the snarling lion, and as he was knocked aside, pounded its ribs and yanked at the long mane. The animal moaned and flicked its long tail. Then to the utter bewilderment of the boys, it rolled over on its back, a strange sound coming from its throat.
“He’s purring!” Bob exclaimed.
Jim Hall sat up and dusted himself off. “Whew!” he said in mock dismay. “That cat’s a lot heavier than he thinks! It was easier when George was a cub.”
Jupiter sighed his relief. He turned to Mike. “That just about scared me out of my wits. Do they always play that rough?”
“It scared me too when I first saw them at it,” Mike admitted. “But I’m used to it now. George is so well-trained, he acts like a big overgrown puppy. You can see how good-natured he really is, now.”
Jupe narrowed his eyes. “But Mr. Hitchcock said —” He turned to the tall man stroking the lion’s chest. “Mr. Hall, we’re The Three Investigators. Alfred Hitchcock told us you were having trouble, that your lion was nervous for some reason.”
“That’s right, son,” Jim Hall said. “Take what happened here. Ol’ George never acted that way before. He knows Mike and never should have come on that mean and ornery. I’ve brought him up, so naturally he listens to me, but lately he hasn’t been dependable, at all.”
“Maybe we can find out why,” Jupe offered. “That wound on his leg, for example. Does that strike you as an accident?”
“What do you mean?”
“It looked like a slashing cut,” Jupe said. “Something that could have been made by a long, sharp instrument — a machete, for instance.”
The man nodded. “Yes. But —”
“When we arrived, we mistook another man for you, sir. He led us out here and he was wielding a machete —”