CHAPTER XXII
WAYLAID IN THE TIMBER
"Stand perfectly still, Jud," cried Paul, hastily, fearful that hisimpulsive companion might be tempted to do something careless.
"But if he starts to jump at us I ought to try to riddle him, Paul,don't you think?" pleaded the other, as he drew both hammers of hisgun back.
Paul carried a camp hatchet, which he had made use of to fashion theapproach to the trap. This he drew back menacingly, while gripping thelantern in his left hand.
"Of course, you can, if it comes to a fight, Jud," he answered, "butthe cat may not mean to attack us after all. They're most vicious whenthey have young kits near by, and this isn't the time of year forthat."
"Huh! Tolly Tip told me there was an unusual lot of these fellowsaround here this season, and mighty bold at that," Jud remarked,drily, as he searched the vicinity for some sign of a creeping form atwhich he could fire.
"Yes, I suppose the early coming of winter has made them extrahungry," admitted the scout-master; "though there seems to be plentyof game for them to catch in the way of rabbits, partridges and graysquirrels."
"Well, do we go on again, Paul, or are you thinking of camping herefor the rest of the night?" demanded Jud, impatiently.
"Oh! we'll keep moving toward the home camp," Jud was informed. "Butwatch out every second of the time. That chap may be lying in a crotchof a tree, meaning to drop down on us."
A minute later, as they were moving slowly and cautiously along, Judgave utterance to a low hiss.
"I see the rascal, Paul!" he said excitedly.
"Wait a bit, Jud," urged the other. "Don't shoot without being deadsure. A wounded bobcat is nothing to be laughed at, and we may getsome beauty scratches before we can finish him. Tell me where you'veglimpsed the beast."
"Look up to where I'm pointing with my gun, Paul, and you can see twoyellow balls shining like phosphorus. Those are his eyes and if I aimright between them I'm bound to finish him."
Jud had hardly said this when there came a loud hoot, and the sound ofwinnowing wings reached them. At the same time the glowing, yellowspots suddenly vanished.
"Wow! what do you think of that for a fake?" growled Jud in disgust."It was only an old owl after all, staring down at us. But say, Paul!that screech didn't come from him let me tell you; there's a cataround here somewhere."
As if to prove Jud spoke the truth there came just then anothervicious snarl.
"Holy smoke! Paul, did you hear that?" ejaculated Jud, half turning."Comes from behind us now, and I really believe there must be a pairof the creatures stalking us on the way home!"
"They usually hunt in couples," affirmed Paul, not showing any signsof alarm, though he clutched the hatchet a little more firmly in hisright hand, and turned his head quickly from side to side, as thoughdesirous of covering all the territory possible.
"Would it pay us to move around in a half circle, and let them keepthe old path?" asked Jud, who could stand for one wildcat, but drewthe line at a wholesale supply.
"I don't believe it would make any difference," returned thescout-master. "If they're bent on giving us trouble any sign ofweakness on our part would only encourage them."
"What shall we do then?"
"Move right along and pay attention to our business," replied Paul."If we find that we've got to fight, try to make sure of one cat whenyou fire. The second rascal we may have to tackle with hatchet andclubbed gun. Now walk ahead of me, so the light won't dazzle your eyeswhen I swing the lantern."
The two scouts moved along slowly, always on the alert. Paul kept thelight going back and forth constantly, hoping that it might impressthe bold bobcats with a sense of caution. Most wild animals are afraidof fire, and as a rule there is no better protection for thepedestrian when passing through the lonely woods than to have ablazing torch in his hand, with lusty lungs to shout occasionally.
"Hold on!" exclaimed Jud, after a short time had elapsed.
"What do you see now, another owl?" asked Paul, trying to make lightof the situation, though truth to tell he felt a bit nervous.
"This isn't any old owl, Paul," asserted the boy with the gun."Besides the glaring eyes, I can see his body on that limb we mustpass under. Look yourself and tell me if that isn't his tail twitchingback and forth?"
"Just what it is, Jud. I've seen our tabby cat do that when crouchingto spring on a sparrow. The beast is ready to jump as soon as we comewithin range. Are you covering him, Jud?"
"Dead center. Trust me to damage his hide for him. Shall I shoot?"
"Use only one barrel, mind, Jud. You may need the other later on. Now,if you're all ready, let go!"
There was a loud bang as Jud pulled the trigger. Mingled with thereport was a shrill scream of agony. Then something came flyingthrough the air from an entirely different quarter.
"Look out! The second cat!" yelled Paul, striking savagely with hishatchet, which struck against a flying body, and hurled it backward ina heap.
The furious wildcat instantly recovered, and again assailed the twoboys standing on the defensive. Jud had clubbed his gun, for at suchclose quarters he did not think he could shoot with any degree ofaccuracy.
Indeed, for some little time that beast kept both of them on thealert, and more than once sharp claws came in contact with the toughkhaki garments worn by the scouts.
After a third furious onslaught which ended in the cat's being knockedover by a lucky stroke from Jud's gunstock, the animal seemed toconclude that the combat was too unequal. That last blow must havepartly tamed its fiery spirit, for it jumped back out of sight, thoughthey could still hear its savage snarling from some point near by.
Both lads were panting for breath. At the same time they felt flushedwith victory. It was not every scout who could meet with such anadventure as this when in the snowy forest, and come out of it withcredit.
"If he only lets me get a glimpse of his old hide," ventured Jud,grimly, "I'll riddle it for him, let me tell you! But say! I hope youdon't mean to evacuate this gory battle-ground without taking a lookto see whether I dropped that other beast or not?"
"Of course not, Jud! I'm a little curious myself to see whether youraim was as good as you believe. Let's move over that way, alwayskeeping ready to repel boarders, remember. That second cat may get hiswind, and come for us again."
"I hope he will, that's what!" said Jud, whose fighting blood was nowup. "I dare him to tackle us again. Nothing would please me better,Paul."
A dozen paces took them to the vicinity of the tree in which Jud hadsighted the crouching beast at which he had fired.
"Got him, all right, Paul!" he hastened to call out, with a vein oftriumph in his excited voice. "He fell in a heap, and considering thatthere were twelve buckshot in that shell, and every one hit him, itisn't to be wondered at."
"A pretty big bobcat in the bargain, Jud, and well worth boastingover. Look at his long claws, and the sharp teeth back of those shortlips. An ugly customer let me tell you. I'm glad we didn't have him onour shoulders, that's all."
"I'm bound to drag the creature all the way to the cabin, to show theboys," announced the successful marksman. "Now don't say anythingagainst it, Paul. You see I'll hold my gun under my arm ready, and atthe first sign of trouble I'll let go of the game and be ready toshoot."
"That's all right, Jud, you're entitled to your trophy, though theskin is pretty well riddled with that big hole through it. Still,Tolly Tip may be able to cure it so as to make a mat for your den athome. Let's be moving."
They could still hear that low and ominous growling and snarling.Sometimes it came from one side, and then again switched around to theother, as the angry cat tried to find an avenue that would appear tobe undefended.
Every step of the way home they felt they were being watched by a pairof fiery eyes. Not for a second did either of the boys dream ofabating their vigilance, for the sagacity of the wildcat would enablehim to know when to make the attack.
Indeed, several times Jud
dropped his trailing burden and half raisedhis gun, as he imagined he detected a suspicious movement somewhereclose by. They proved to be false alarms, however, and nothingoccurred on the way home to disturb them.
When not far from the cabin they heard loud voices, and caught theflicker of several blazing torches amidst the trees.
"It's Tolly Tip and the boys," announced Paul, as soon as he caughtthe sounds and saw the moving lights. "They must have heard thegunshot and our shouts, and are coming this way to find out what's thetrouble."
A few minutes later they saw half a dozen hurrying figuresapproaching, several carrying guns. As the anxious ones discoveredPaul and Jud they sent out a series of whoops which the returningscouts answered. And when those who had come from the cabin saw thedead bobcat, as well as listened to the story of the attack, they wereloud in their praises of the valor of the adventurous pair.