llowed about a pint, I saw
that I was hanging to the bushy end of the broken limb. That was all
very well, but the next thing I observed was not so pleasant, for six
feet distant, on the thick part of the branch, sat the wild-cat,
apparently none the worse for his fall. His sharp claws were driven
into the bark, and he was calmly licking his dripping fur. Meanwhile
the current was sweeping us down stream, and Ned was running along the
bank in a sad state of fright and excitement. My back began to hurt
pretty badly, and I discovered that my face was torn and bleeding in
one or two places, though whether this was caused by the fall or by the
wild-cat I did not know.

"Swim, Jack, let go and swim," shouted Ned, and then, remembering
perhaps that I was unable to follow his instructions, he suddenly
turned and ran back through the woods at the top of his speed, instead
of making any effort to help me.

I was badly scared before, and now, when I saw, as I supposed, my last
hope vanish, I began to shout for help as loudly as I could.

But at the very first cry the wild-cat lifted his head, and emitted a
vicious snarl. As I howled louder than ever, he advanced a foot or two
along the limb, ripping off the bark, and fixing his big glaring eyes
savagely on my face.

I was terrified into silence, and, as soon as I ceased shouting, the
brute stopped and coolly proceeded to lick his fur again.

Apparently, he did not object to my presence so long as I remained
quiet. The worst of it was that my end of the branch was pretty far
down in the water, and threatened every moment to carry me entirely
under the surface.

In this precarious situation, I drifted down the creek, until the bend
drew near that sweeps round to Hake's Mill. Here the country was a
little more open, and a farmhouse came into sight over the brow of a
hill.

There was a chance of rescue, and in spite of my previous experience, I
decided to try it, for my limbs were becoming chilled, and I knew I
could not hold on much longer.

"Help! Help!" I cried with might and main. No answer came back, but
before I could shout a third time the wild-cat uttered a snarl, and
began creeping toward me, inch by inch, and lashing the water fiercely
with his tail. Lower and lower sank the branch, until my shoulders
were submerged, and still the beast kept advancing.

I continued to shout, but no welcome voice responded, only empty echoes
floating back from the hills