ar lolling gray-brown among the gray-brown rocks of the mountain
opposite, is calmly surveying all the world about, including yourself.

[Illustration]

If you consult the witching contraband books that we of a bygone age
used to read surreptitiously in school hours, you will learn that "the
Cougar is a fearsome beast of invincible prowess. He can kill a Buffalo
or an ox with a blow of his paw, and run off with it at full speed or
carry it up a tree to devour, and he is by choice a man-eater. Commonly
uttering the cry of a woman in distress to decoy the gallant victim to
his doom." If, on the other hand, you consult some careful natural
histories, or one or two of the seasoned guides, you learn that the
Cougar, though horribly destructive among Deer, sheep, and colts,
rarely kills a larger prey, and never is known to attack man.

I have had many persons take exception to the last statement, and give
contrary proof by referring to some hair-lifting incident which seemed
to be a refutation. But most of these attacks by Cougars have failed to
stand the disintegrating power of a carefully focussed searchlight.

There is no doubt that the Cougar is addicted to horseflesh, as his
scientific name implies (_hippolestes_=horse pirate). He will go a long
way to kill a colt, and several supposed cases of a Cougar attacking a
man on horseback at night prove to have been attacks on the horse, and
in each case on discovering the man the Cougar had decamped.

This creature is also possessed of a strong curiosity and many times is
known to have followed a man in the woods merely to study the queer
creature, but without intent to do him harm. Nevertheless the timid
traveller who discovers he is "pursued by a Cougar" may manage to
persuade himself that he has had a hairbreadth escape.

THE TIME I MET A LION

A newspaper reporter asked me once for a story of terrible peril from
our wild animals, a time "when I nearly lost my life."

[Illustration]

My answer was, "I never had such an experience. Danger from wild animals
is practically non-existent in America to-day."

"Did you never meet a Grizzly or a Mountain Lion?" he asked.

"Yes, many Grizzlies, and one or two Lions. I've had one look me over
while I slept," was the answer.

And now the thrill-monger's face lighted up, he straightened his paper
and stuck his pencil in his mouth by way of getting ready, and
ejaculated: "Say! now you're getting it; let's hear the details