The Mystery Of The Nervous Lion Part 8

Jupe frowned. "You said their set is about five minutes away from your house.

Would their mikes pick up the sound of the metal shredder?"

"It's possible," Mike admitted. "I don't know. Mr. Eastland hasn't complained."

"He might not have to do his sound work at Jungle Land," said Pete, drawing on information he'd picked up from his father. "Sometimes the sound is dubbed in later - even the actors' voices."

Jupe nodded. "What about the actors and work crew? Do they live here, too?"

"Most of them go home at night," Mike said. "The motorway is near here and most of them don't live too far away - Westwood, Hollywood, West Los Angeles - it's only a half-hour ride."

"What about Mr. Eastland?" Jupe asked. "Does he stay here?"

"He can. He has his own trailer out there, and one apiece for the two stars, Rock Randall and Sue Stone. Uncle Jim rented them all of Jungle Land so they can stay if they want to. The gate is open and they come and go as they please. I don't check and neither does Jim."

"But they could be here," Jupe said stubbornly. "They could be snooping around your house at night and making George nervous."

"Why would they be doing that, Jupe?" asked Bob.

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"I can't think of any sensible reason, Bob," he said. "All I say is the possibility exists."

"Let's get on with the tour, fellows," said Mike. "Come on down to the fence and then we'll circle around to the other side of the house."

As the boys approached the fence, the strange sounds from the sc.r.a.p yard began again. The rhythmical crunching, grinding noises ebbed and then the wailing sound started. This time the boys were expecting the almost human shriek of the mechanism and remained calm.

"Happy metal shredding!" Bob said, holding his ears. "I'm surprised all all your animals aren't nervous wrecks!" your animals aren't nervous wrecks!"

Jupe looked at the fence gleaming in the moonlight. Metal stakes were pegged into the ground several yards apart, supporting a netting of wire links. "Does this fence run all the way along your property line, Mike?" he asked.

"Yes," Mike said. "It continues north past the salvage yard. Then there's a big drainage ditch behind it which runs parallel the rest of the way. The fence is six feet high all the way, like it is here, and is strong enough to keep practically all our animals from escaping if they should happen to get loose."

The boys continued north along the fence and then began to cut back up the hill through trees and tall gra.s.s. Suddenly Pete stopped.

"What's up, Pete?" Bob said.

The tall boy pointed unsteadily ahead.

"Did you hear that?" Pete whispered.

The sounds from the salvage yard had ceased for the moment, and the boys all stood still, listening hard.

"Where, Pete?" asked Jupe. "What is it?"

Pete pointed again. "There."

They heard a rustling sound in the tall gra.s.s and then heavy breathing.

"There! " Pete whispered hoa.r.s.ely again. " Pete whispered hoa.r.s.ely again.

The others followed the line of his keen sight. As they stared into the jungle darkness, they saw a shadowy movement.

They froze, scarcely daring to breathe.

Something moved from behind a tree.

It came forward, moving in a peculiar way. Then they saw the dark head, swaying between hunched, s.h.a.ggy shoulders.

Jim Hall had told them they would be in no particular danger. Somehow they could not believe it as the panting gorilla came closer!

Chapter 12.

Noises in the Night JUPITER RECOVERED his senses first.

"Run!" the stocky leader of The Three Investigators shouted. "Ramble and scramble!"

The three turned and ran. Mike hesitated, torn between flight and duty. He stared a moment longer at the oncoming gorilla. Red-rimmed eyes glowered at him from beneath the s.h.a.ggy, beetling brows.

Jupe, glancing back, saw the situation. "Run, Mike! He might be dangerous now!"

The creature raised its long arms and bared yellow teeth. Mike, with a sharp intake of breath, wavered, then broke and ran to join the others.

The gorilla pounded its chest, veered, and disappeared into the high gra.s.s.

"Where'd he go?" Bob called.

"He's in the gra.s.s. I think we scared him off," cried Mike. "Come on-I think we'd better head for the house."

Warily they circled the area, their hearts pounding. They were nearly at the crest of the incline when suddenly the gra.s.s parted in front of them. Too late, they saw the s.h.a.ggy creature step out.

The boys stood frozen with fear. The hulking creature raised its heavy arms and opened its mouth. A strange sound issued from its throat.

"Hit the ground!" a voice called sharply.

As the boys dived to the side, they heard a dull, thudding sound. They looked up to see Jim Hall and the vet with his stun gun raised.

The gorilla swayed, a puzzled look on its dark face. Then it moaned and toppled heavily to the ground.

"You boys all right?" Hall asked. They nodded dumbly, still shaken. "Nice shooting, Doc," he said.

The vet nodded without changing expression. He walked up quickly and stood over the fallen gorilla as it feebly moved its limbs.

"He's not hurt," he told the boys as they crowded round. "It just takes a few seconds for the tranquillising drug to take effect. Then he'll have a nice long sleep and we'll be able to get him back to his cage."

"Looks like we circled back in time," Jim Hall said, frowning. "Somebody sent us off on a wild goose chase to the canyon for nothing. He could have been hiding in the trees here all the time."

"Who told you the gorilla was in the canyon?" Jupe asked.

"Jay Eastland," Hall said tersely.

Doc Dawson leaned over the inert simian. "He's out already, Jim. Give me a hand and we can lug him to the car."

Hall stooped and deftly roped the gorilla. He and Doc dragged the unconscious animal off. The boys followed as the two men hoisted it into the rear of the open jeep.

"Where are you taking him now, Mr. Hall?" Jupe asked.

"Back to his cage. Let's hope he stays put this time."

"Uncle Jim," Mike put in, "Jupe noticed that one of the cage bars was missing.

The ones next to it were bent, so that's how he got out."

Hall glanced keenly at Jupiter. "That's how it happened, all right. Sure looks like somebody is trying to sabotage us, doesn't it?"

"It would appear so, sir. But now I'm wondering how you can put the gorilla back into that cage and expect him to stay there."

"That's easy," Hall said. "There's a man at work now replacing the missing bar and straightening the bent ones."

The jeep nosed out along the trail and Jupiter and the others followed at a dogtrot.

Workmen were busy at the gorilla's cage when they arrived at the house.

A large man with close-cropped hair turned to face them. His arms were thick and muscular, one of them heavily tattooed. He held a long hammer in one hamlike hand.

"She's all set now," he said to Jim Hall. He glanced at Doc Dawson. "Got him already? That was fast work, Doc."

Jim Hall strode forward to the cage and the burly helper stepped aside. Hall put his weight against the cage bars, gripping them tightly and jerking his body from side to side.

"Okay. That ought to hold him, Bo. Thanks." He turned to the jeep. "Better give us a hand here with Kong."

"Sure thing," the man said, tossing down his hammer.

"Hold it a second!" Doc Dawson said. "I want to check out that cage myself. I've got enough to do without running around day and night looking for lost animals."

The helper shrugged and grinned. "Sure, Doc. You want us to lock you up inside and then see if you can get out?"

"Very funny, Jenkins," Dawson snapped.

He came forward and picked up the heavy hammer. He slowly tapped each bar on the empty cage. He bent forward attentively as if he were listening for a flaw in the metal. Then he grabbed the bars in his strong, weatherbeaten hands, tugging and twisting, applying pressure from all sides.

"Satisfied?" Bo Jenkins asked.

"Seems okay," Doc Dawson growled. "Those bars stand up to me all right, but then I don't have the strength of a gorilla." He looked at Bo Jenkins coldly. "Reckon you don't either, Bo. But if you're taking Hank Morton's place here, you can't afford to make any mistakes!"

Jim Hall turned to Doc Dawson. "Bo is working out fine, Doc. You're the one who told me he could take Hank Morton's place and do a good job, and I'm satisfied so far. Why needle him?"

"Just want him to be on his toes, that's all," Dawson said gruffly. "We don't want any more accidents around here." He stepped back to look at the empty gorilla cage again, and shook his head. "Darned if I can figure out how that bar got removed. I'd better check the panther's cage too."

Carrying the hammer, he walked abruptly to the cage opposite. The black cat leaped to its feet, hissing and snarling. The vet walked around the cage striking each of the bars in turn.

"He appears to be checking for a metal fault," Jupe said to his friends. "I've heard of something called metal fatigue. Airplane parts are checked for that periodically."

"With a hammer?" Bob asked.

Jupe shrugged. "Maybe Doc Dawson has his own method of detection. After all, he spends a lot of time with caged animals."

After several ringing blows, Doc Dawson stepped back and nodded as if satisfied.

"Okay, Jim," he said. "Far as I can tell, the bars check out with equal resistance. No cracks or fissures, and they're all securely in place. I guess you can put the gorilla back in now."

Jim Hall signalled the work crew, who lifted the still-slumbering gorilla into its cage. Hall slipped the ropes off, swung the cage door shut, and padlocked it.

Doc Dawson stepped into his jeep. "Looks like you're all set now, Jim. I've got a sick horse to look after at the corral. If you need me again, just holler."

"Let's hope I don't, for a while, Doc. Thanks again for your help."

"Put it on the bill!" Dawson yelled. He waved and drove off.

Bob nudged Jupiter. "More fun coming," he whispered. "Here comes Jay Eastland."

The long station wagon roared up and the fat, bald-headed producer jumped out.

Hall's lips tightened.

Eastland strode up quickly and peered into the gorilla cage. "So you got him finally, eh? Sure took you long enough, Hall. You had my crew scared out of their wits!"

"Yes, we got him," Jim Hall said slowly. "We might have caught up with him sooner, but somebody gave us a wrong tip. It turned out he wasn't in the canyon area at all but right around here, down by the fence."

The producer shrugged. "So what? I heard he was seen near the canyon and pa.s.sed the word on to you." His voice rose. "How do you expect me to shoot a movie if you can't keep your wild animals under lock and key? My actors are worried sick that any moment they're going to be attacked by another one you let get away!"

"I'm sorry, Eastland," Hall said quietly. "We've had a few accidents, but nothing serious has happened. Everything's fine now and under control. You can tell your actors not to worry. Go on back and shoot your movie and leave us alone. You're only getting my animals stirred up and excited."

Eastland's face turned a mottled red. He backed up a few steps and shook his fist.

"Don't tell me what to do, Hall. I've rented this place and-"

Suddenly there was an ear-splitting snarl from behind him. Eastland turned in alarm. The black panther leaped forward, and Eastland screamed in terror as the big cat crashed against its cage bars and fell back snarling.

The producer looked ill. His face was white and his eyes rolled. Then he noticed Jupiter and his friends watching.

"What are these kids doing here?" he barked. "What are you running-a sideshow?"