"Polar bears and tigers are serious enough. But I take it you were referring to fatalities."
"Certainly, Doctor. It will be only a question of time before this ends in tragedy. The keeper attacked by the bear was badly savaged but is out of danger, I understand."
'Thank heaven for that," I said. "What are your findings there, Pons?"
I went around to stand with my companion as he went over the bear's claws with his powerful lens.
"Precious little, Parker. I did not expect to find anything. But the basic rule of detection is to make a thorough examination, however unlikely it may be to yield anything. One occasionally comes across surprises."
He bent over the bloodstained front paws of the colossal beast.
"Hello!"
There was excitement in his voice.
"What do you make of this, Parker?"
Superintendent Heathfield was standing at the far end of the room now, chatting with the attendant, and we were temporarily alone.
"It looks like a length of thread, Pons."
"Does it not? Perhaps from the uniform of the attacked keeper. However, I think I shall just retain it for the moment. One never knows when it may come in useful."
And he picked out the snort length of gray thread and placed it carefully in one of the little envelopes he kept specially for the purpose. The examination was soon concluded, and we walked back down toward the superintendent.
"I take it there is no doubt the polar bear is a wild and savage animal?"
"None at all, sir," said the attendant, touching his cap to my companion. "Polaris — that's the dead beast, sir, was particularly vicious. Took three shots to kill him."
"Indeed."
Solar Pons glanced around him.
"Well, Superintendent, I think we have done enough here. I suggest a short visit to the Lion House before we return to Sir Clive."
He glanced at his watch.
"I think that is all we can hope to do tonight. It will be midnight before we conclude, in any event."
Heathfield led the way through the thin mist to where the police car was parked.
"I got Sir Clive's permission. I think it will save time if we go by car, and it will prove less fatiguing. The zoo grounds are so extensive."
"Admirable, Superintendent. You appear to have thought of everything."
Heathfield smiled thinly and took his place next to the driver, while Pons and I and the keeper traveled in the back. After a short interval spent nosing through the mist along the broad asphalt walks between the animal cages, we drew up before the massive entrance of the Victorian Lion House. Lights shone from within the building, and there came a low, keening roar that was unmistakable.
We waited while the keeper unlocked the big double doors and followed him into the cavernous interior. A strong odor of the big cats came out to us, bitter and pungent. Dim forms moved behind the bars of the cages set at the left-hand side of the long house, and the few overhead lights switched on at this time of night cast deep pools of shadow.
There were stone steps to the right, with wooden benches set on the flat space at the top and a burly figure in dark uniform was waiting there. He rose as we entered and hurried down the steps toward us. He touched his cap to Superintendent Heathfield, whom he had apparently met before.
"Mr. Stebbins told me I was to look out for you, Superintendent. Any way in which I can help…"
"Thank you," said Heathfield crisply. "We may need you shortly. For the moment we will just look about."
The burly man saluted again and went back to the bench with his colleague, and their gloomy conversation came down to us from time to time as we walked on in front of the great beasts. Pons himself reminded me greatly of the inmates of the cages as he prowled restlessly about, darting sharp glances here and there.
"Which is the cage from which Sheba escaped, Superintendent?"
"This one here, Mr. Pons."
Heathfield had stopped before a large enclosure set about halfway down the spacious house, in which a magnificent tigress paced majestically up and down, every now and then giving vent to a low, rumbling growl. Solar Pons paused and gazed thoughtfully into the great beast's glowing yellow eyes.
"A magnificent sight, Heathfield. I know of nothing so impressive. Intelligence, strength and courage. A formidable combination."
"Indeed, Mr. Pons. So you can imagine the degree of determination on Stebbins' part in acting as he did in preventing the beast from escaping."
"The point had not eluded me, Superintendent. I must examine the main door before I leave. In the meantime, with your permission, I wili just have a look at this cage here."
To my alarm he eased his lithe, angular form over the low metal barrier that prevented the public from approaching too close to the cages, and bent down in the narrow gangway inside. The tigress immediately stopped her pacing and then flung herself against the bars of the cage in an absolute paroxysm of fury. The sight was so stupendous in its savagery and the noise so deafening that even Pons was momentarily diverted from his purpose.
"What an incredible beast, Pons."
"Is she not, Parker."
"Take care, Pons."
"I shall certainly do that, Parker."
The animal was silent again now and resumed her tireless pacing, though every now and then she cast a sullen glare on my companion from her smoldering yellow eyes. The two keepers had come forward from the terrace at the back and now stood by silently, the burly man fingering a long metal pole.
"I do not think that will be necessary," said Solar Pons with a thin smile.
He bent forward to look at the cage, which had a sliding door, the bar of which was secured by a strong padlock. "Has this been changed, do you know, Superintendent?" Heathfield shook his head.
"Not to my knowledge, Mr. Pons. It had been opened with a key, according to our experts, and the retaining bar slid back."
"A risky business," said Solar Pons dryly, turning his gaze up toward the ceiling.
"Hello!"
There was a sharp urgency in his voice.
"What is it, Mr. Pons?"
"Look there."
We all followed Solar Pons' pointing finger. At first I could not make it out and then saw a small piece of frayed twine, which was fastened to the bars of the sliding door near the top.
"Just a piece of string, Pons."
"Is it not. Parker! But a simple ruse that ensured the survival of this phantom you talk about. Unless I mistake my vocation, he simply attached a cord and slid the door open from the safety of that door yonder."
He turned to the keepers.
"What is in there?"
"Feed storage and staff locker room, sir."
"Hmm."
Solar Pons climbed back over the barrier and rejoined us, his eyes sharp and intent, oblivious to the caged forms of the lions and tigers that circled aimlessly in the background.
"The twine may have been broken by the tigress when she jumped to the ground. Perhaps by a hind leg. Or our man may simply have snapped it with a strong tug. How would be have gotten out?"
"There is another door to the outside beyond the locker room, Mr. Pons," said the burly keeper, looking at my companion curiously.
"What is your name?"
"Hodgson, sir."
"Very well, Hodgson, just lead on. will you?"
The thickset keeper walked briskly up to the far door and beckoned us through into a chill, high, bleak room that seemed cold despite the bales of straw in the corner. There was a heavy wooden block with a cleaver and saw, the remains of a carcass on it, and some metal bins for foodstuffs.
"This is where you prepare the food for the animals?" said Pons, glancing around him keenly.
"Exactly, sir."
The Lion House was well heated, and I suppose it was the contrast between it and this chill place that made me glad to leave it as Hodgson opened another door at the rear. This led to a small, cheerful room equipped with a gas fire, some tables and chairs, a stove, and a section in the corner where there were rows of green-painted lockers.