CHAPTER XIV
THE COWBOY GUIDE
Everybody was in motion at once.
Some went over backward, regardless of appearances; others rolled aside,bent upon placing some little distance between themselves and theinvader. Bluff was trying to work the mechanism of his gun in order tosecure a second shot, but as so often happens when the hunter isexcited, he failed to accomplish what should have been an easy change.
The maddened panther had crouched again after landing close to the fire.Perhaps what acted more than anything else to keep the beast fromleaping once more was the uncertainty of choosing among so many which heshould attack. If he only knew from whence had come that sting which hadgiven him such sudden agony there would have been no hesitation at all.
One, however, did not join in the almost universal retreat. This man wasReddy. He had been leaning forward at the time, as stated, about topick up a brand with which to light his cigarette. Some impulse urgedhim to seize a flaming, heavy stick that stuck out of the fire, and makea frantic attack upon the crouching panther.
Frank never forgot that spectacle. The panther, with ears flattenedback, and fangs exposed, snarled and carried on just like a big housecat when assailed by a small but saucy dog, striking out from time totime, as though trying to reach the arm that wielded the cudgel.
The flaming brand caused too much fear to allow of an attack. Still, theugly beast would not give way, and leap out of its perilous position.
"Where's my gun?" At least three different shouts arose.
"Get out of range there, kid!" bellowed Billy, who had drawn a heavyrevolver, and, on hands and knees, sought to get a line on the commonenemy.
"But that's my panther!" cried the voice of Bluff.
Frank saw him once more bring his rifle up to his shoulder. Althoughhardly in a position to see what was going on, Will seemed to befumbling with something in a desperate fashion. The fellow, as usual,was thinking only of what a grand thing it would be if he could onlyget that scene for posterity to gaze upon.
"I hope Bluff aims straight!" Frank was saying to himself, for he knewthere was more or less danger of the bullet doing some damage to one ofthe campers who might happen to be on the other side, partly screened bythe brush.
The crash of the gun followed.
"Wow!" shouted Reddy, falling back as the panther tumbled over in hisdirection, for he knew what damage those poisonous claws might do in thedying agony of the beast.
Then the rest of the scattered company appeared. Some crawled out fromthe brush, others arose from flattening themselves on the ground, whilestill another group made their exit from under the canvas of the tentclose by.
The beast was writhing in its last hold on life.
"That's my panther, I told you!" said Bluff, jumping to his feet, andstill holding on to his gun.
He was as white as a ghost, but a fire shone in his eyes telling of thespirit that had finally been aroused there. Jerry would soon have tolook to his laurels now.
Mr. Mabie laughed as he patted Bluff on the back.
"I reckon it is, youngster; but you took big chances that time. I'dadvise you to slow up a bit in the future, when shooting in the dark.That impetuous nature will sure get you into more than one scrape,otherwise," he said soberly.
Bluff hung his head. He knew now that he had been too hasty, when therewere so many older campaigners than himself around; but the loss of thatelk had rankled in his heart, so that he could not resist the suddentemptation to redeem his reputation.
Jerry, for once, had nothing to say, at least to the successful one. Hebent over the dead panther, and examined it with curiosity. Will wasloudly lamenting the fact that once again he had found himself left inthe lurch.
"You fellows move too fast," he declared. "Now, if Bluff hadn't put inhis oar, I was just about ready to shoot off a flashlight picture. Justthink what it would mean to see Reddy, here, banging that big cat overthe head with his torch! Oh! it's just too mean for any use! Everythinggoes wrong just when I'm going to squeeze my bulb, and get the bestpicture there ever was! Even a rotten old log has to go and break offshort--"
"Hey, Will! Let up on that whining, won't you?" cried Jerry, just then,fearful lest his secret was about to come out.
Frank looked suspiciously at both his chums. Perhaps he may haveentertained a dim thought that there was something between them thatthey did not want known; but other things soon put this out of his mindfor the time being.
"We must keep an eye out the rest of the time we're here," said Billy,after the company had settled down again around the fire.
"Why?" asked Bluff, looking up from admiring the sleek fur of his prize.
"The brutes often hunt in couples, you know. This was the mother, justas I had an ijee, and she's got half-grown cubs around somewhere. If themate's near by he may give us a call sooner or later."
Bluff's hand had stolen out toward his gun at these words.
"Here! No more of that, my lad!" said Mr. Mabie. "You've had your fling,and come out of it mighty lucky. Don't try it again while I'm around,please. If any more uninvited visitors drop in, you leave them to therest of us."
But there was no further alarm. During the night some of them declaredthey heard strange cries off in the woods, which Mr. Mabie said musthave been the whining of the panther cubs, looking in vain for theirmother.
Frank was distressed.
"I hope they're really big enough to forage for themselves. If there'sanything I dislike it's to shoot bird or beast that has young dependingupon it. Perhaps the old male may look after them," he suggested.
"Well," smiled Mr. Mabie, "I hardly think that will prove to be thecase; at least they don't, as a rule. But I've got an idea the cubs areof a good size, and can find some means of subsisting. For my part, Iwouldn't care if every panther in the Northwest were rubbed out. I've nolove for the sly beasts. They've robbed me of more than one fine calf, Ican tell you."
After breakfast a hunt was organized.
"We ought to get an elk before leaving up here," said the stockman asthey prepared to go forth again in a squad; "and as this will be ourlast day in camp by the falls, we must look sharp."
"Then we make tracks to-morrow?" asked Frank.
"Hardly that, since we go by water. You've seen the three bullboatsyonder. We send our tents and all other things around with the horses,while we shoot the rapids, and enjoy the most exhilarating boat ride youever dreamed of. Just wait and see, boys. It will be something worthwhile."
After all, the stockman was unable to start out with them. He wassubject to attacks of rheumatism, due to his age, and many exposures inthe past. When one of these came on Mr. Mabie was unable to walk anydistance, and, unfortunately, he experienced such an attack thatmorning.
"Sorry, boys, but it can't be helped. Reddy, here, will have to take myplace. You don't need me, that's plain. Only don't be too reckless, now.That's the fault with most youngsters," and he shook his head at Bluff,who turned fiery red as his eyes fell upon the panther, which Billy wasskinning at that moment.
Of course, Reddy was to act as guide to the party. He had been aroundthe vicinity a number of times. Besides, he knew the habits of the elk,which used this valley for their feeding grounds, and if any one couldlead them to success in their hunt it was the young cowboy.
Frank used to look at Reddy, and wonder if he had ever seen him before;but as that was out of the question, he came to the belief that it wassimply a matter of resemblance.
"Look there!" exclaimed the guide, before they had gone two hundredsteps from the camp, and pointing as he spoke.
"What was it?" asked Jerry eagerly.
"I saw a gray critter slinking away into that thicket!"
"The panther's mate!" cried Bluff excitedly, as he fingered his gun.
"I reckon it was; but we ain't lost no panther, and anyhow, this is ahunt for elk meat. Come along, boys," remarked Reddy hastily.
They tramped for half an hour steadily, going far beyond
where Bluff hadhad his strange adventure with the wounded elk. Will trailed along inthe rear, holding on to his beloved camera. The woods looked as thoughthe recent dry weather had seared the leaves more or less, but theylacked the splendid gorgeous tints of autumn.
More than once the others had to wait for the straggler, or else call tohim. He grew so interested in his surroundings, especially when tryingto get a view that particularly appealed to his fancy, that he was aptto forget their mission entirely.
Once he aroused himself to the fact that he could no longer see hiscomrades, or catch a sound of their voices. This disagreeable ideacaused him to hurry, and no doubt he became less cautious in navigatingsome of the various narrow paths, for before he realized that he hadstarted a small avalanche, he was caught up in its gathering swoop, andfound himself being carried swiftly down a rather steep declivity,unable to stay his rush.