chance than I could help. It's
war to the knife between me and any such prowlin' critter. I can't git
my gun workin' too quick to please me when I sees the yaller eyes of a
painter hoverin' round my camp."

"Are their eyes always yellow?" asked Bluff eagerly.

"I reckons they are, kid; leastways all that I ever see was marked that
way," replied the cowboy, reaching out for a brand with which to light
the cigarette he had been rolling between his fingers, just as Reddy was
also doing at the time.

"Like those yonder, do you mean?" said Bluff, pointing behind Billy, to
a point where the dense thicket came close to the border of the camp.

Every eye was instantly turned in that direction. Frank himself was
thrilled when he discovered that there were twin glowing eyes among
those bushes, eyes that had all the attributes of the cat tribe.

Various exclamations arose from the group.

"By gum! It's a painter, sure as you live!" said Billy calmly.

"Never heard of one so bold!" whispered Reddy hoarsely, feeling for the
weapon he usually carried attached to his belt.

"Everybody sit quiet, and see what he means to do. He won't attack us,
but it may be you'll see him make a jump for the balance of that sheep
over yonder. The scent of the game has aroused his hunger. Look at him
raise his head to see!"

Mr. Mabie spoke these words in a low but tense tone. He was more or less
excited by the strange actions of the prowling panther.

"I reckon it's a mother, with hungry cubs near by. She's just bound to
get some grub for the kits, men or no men. Now, if you lie low, and
watch, I reckon you'll see something you never expected to see in your
born days."

Billy sat there motionless. Only Frank saw the movement of Bluff when he
raised his rifle, and while he would have warned his chum against the
folly of firing, before he could frame words to carry his meaning, the
quick report came, causing a sensation among those around the fire.

The crouching beast, infuriated by receiving a sudden, painful wound,
launched straight out, and landed in the midst of the campers!

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 the
invader. Bluff was trying to work the mechanism of his gun in order to
secure a second shot, but as so often happens when the hunter is
excited, he