fell　down。

From　his　right；　that　soft　sound　again；　falling　clumps　of　snow。　He　looked　over

and　saw　the　other　two　lions；　clear　of　snow　now　down　to　their　forepaws；　side　by

side；　about　sixty　paces　away。　The　green　indentations　that　were　their　eyes　were

fixed　on　him。　The　dog　had　turned　its　head。

（It　only　happens　when　you're　not　looking。）

〃Oh！　Hey　—　〃

His　snowshoes　had　crossed　and　he　plunged　forward　into　the　snow；　arms　waving

uselessly。　More　snow　got　inside　his　hood　and　down　his　neck　and　into　the　tops　of

his　boots。　He　struggled　out　of　the　snow　and　tried　to　get　the　snowshoes　under

him；　heart　hammering　crazily　now

（Secret　Agent　Man　remember　you're　the　Secret　Agent）

and　overbalanced　backward。　For　a　moment　he　lay　there　looking　at　the　sky；

thinking　it　would　be　simpler　to　just　give　up。

Then　he　thought　of　the　thing　in　the　concrete　tunnel　and　knew　he　could　not。　He

gained　his　feet　and　stared　over　at　the　topiary。　All　three　lions　were　bunched

together　now；　not　forty　feet　away。　The　dog　had　ranged　off　to　their　left；　as　if

to　block　Danny's　retreat。　They　were　bare　of　snow　except　for　powdery　ruffs　ar