; but don't be too rash, Steve. You'll
need all your good looks when you get back to Chester again. I'd hate to
see the map of Ireland across your face in red scratches. Besides,
there's always danger of blood poisoning setting in when a wild animal
has scratched you, especially one that is carnivorous by nature. Go slow
now."

The experiment met with an immediate success, for there broke forth a
fresh series of explosive snarls even more ferocious than any that had
gone before. Steve drew up in a hurry, evidently under the impression
that he was in danger of being made the object of an attack.

"Yes, she's there still, Jack!" he exclaimed, just as though there could
be any doubt of such a thing.

"I saw her move, in the bargain," his companion went on to say. "She has
kept on a line with us all the while, and still bars the way."

"This is simply disgusting," fretted Steve.

"It's something that can't very well be helped," Jack told him: "and so
what's the use of feeling bad about it. There are other days coming,
when we may be able to pass along here without being balked by a mother
cat with kittens. You know the old saying, 'what can't be cured must be
endured,' so we'll have to make the best of it."

"Does that mean we're at the end of our rope for today, Jack?"

"Seems that way, Steve; the cat rules the roost this time, apparently."

CHAPTER IX

BACK TO THE WOODS CAMP

Steve had a fairly well developed stubborn streak in his nature, and he
certainly did hate to give a thing up, once he had got started. Worst of
all was the fact of their being compelled to acknowledge defeat through
a miserable wildcat; had it been a panther now, a tiger, or a lion, he
might bow to the inevitable with a good grace; but cats, in his mind,
were always to be associated with the night-singing Tommies at home, for
which species he felt a contempt that could best be displayed by a rock
thrown from a bedroom window.

"Shucks! I hate to do it, but just as you say, Jack, the beast is set on
drawing a regular dead line ahead of us, which we can't pass without a
fight. So when you're ready give the word and we'll quit cold. I'll
never feel like telling any of the fellows at home, though, how two of
us were forced to turn tail by just one measly cat."

"We might sit down here for a spell, and see if the brute will slink
away," suggested Jack, evidently also averse to giving up so easily.

"Good idea," agreed Steve; and ac