A TERRIBLE DISASTER.

"WHO'S there?" demanded Red Beard's rough voice.

Davey thought a moment, then he said—

"'Tis the Dutchman knows what's what, And he likes his bottles squat.'"

Then he heard Johnnie say, "Why, Captain, it's Davey Coleman's voice."

"Young rascal!" bellowed Captain Smythe. "If it is, I'll wring for him what little neck he's got. Open the door, my men!"

The rock was rolled away, and there stood Davey.

"It's a matter of life and death I'm come on," said Davey. "I've run all the way from Tenby, first to Penally and then here, to tell you that Spankle and Tom Hughes have split on you. I saw them at the watch house."

"Spankle and Tom Cat!" repeated the captain, while the rest of the gang seemed struck dumb with amazement. "Sure there's no mistake, Davey?"

"Quite sure, sir," replied Davey.

"Then sharp's the word," said Captain Smythe. "Now, my men, we must get all the stuff we've got left here taken out of this,—and back to the ship. Ben, go out through the wood way, and down to Tenby as fast as you can, and bring the schooner a bit nearer this way. You'll find Terry Nicholls on board, and you two can manage her just for that little distance. The rest of you set to and empty the storing cave, and carry the things down to the boat at the back door. Now then, look alive!"

In a moment, the men had set to work, and Davey having done what he came to do, was about to slip away, when the captain turned and came towards him.

"Davey Coleman," said he, "you've done us a good turn that I'll never forget. Another day—if we should be lucky enough to meet again—you shall tell me how you managed to get away from our back door without a boat; you, too—that couldn't swim a stroke!"

The boy groped his way back to the entrance, ran down the hill through the wood, and soon found himself in the little lane leading out into the high road.

Fearing to miss his way in the night (which had now become very dark) if he went by the short cut, he came home by the road, getting a lift for the last part of the journey in a baker's light cart.

The circus performance was in full swing as Davey came up the road towards the field, but it was not yet the hour for Leo's appearance, so the lad was in good time.

Thankful that his errand to Hoyle's Mouth was accomplished, he took up his station at once by the big cage, keeping a sharp look-out lest any of the loiterers should come dangerously near.

"I say, Waif, your master wants you for a minute over there," said one of the circus grooms coming up. "Go at once, will you?"

"Yes, Jim, but please wait here till I come back," said Davey, "and see that nobody gets hurt."

Jim readily agreed, but a moment later he met an old crony of his, and forgetting his charge, walked away with him, gaily chattering.

Leo kept Davey longer than he had expected, and before he could get back to his place, he suddenly heard some awful shrieks and a deafening roar.

Davey rushed back, followed by his master, across the field, and as they did so, a cry was raised, "Where's the tamer? Run and fetch him! The lions are out! The beasts have escaped!"

And sure enough, when Leo and Davey reached the tent with a light, they found that from two of the cages the bolts had been slipped back, the latches lifted, and now the barred doors stood wide open. Ahab and Jezebel, the lion and lioness, were gone, and so was the great bear; only the leopards, snarling and growling and tearing at the cage, remained safely imprisoned.

And while Leo and the Waif stood speechless with horror, unable for the moment to think what to do next, high above the panic-stricken cries of the scattering crowd, Davey heard a wild and melancholy voice that he knew.

"Woe to them!" it chanted. "Woe to the evil-doers! The beasts of the field shall devour them, the lions shall take them for a prey. Behold, a judgment is come upon them in the name of the Lord; for I, even I, have loosed the bolts and the bars, and let the strong and the fierce go free. Woe to the evil-doers! Woe! And they shall perish from off the face of the earth."