ugh, until just as it was about to jump on them. Then I fired."

"And just in time, too," declared Ruth. "Oh, if that beast had ever
jumped on me I don't know what I'd have done!"

"They're pretty bad scratchers," said Flaming Arrow. "I was clawed by
one once, and I carry the scars yet."

"Will you be able to go on with the play?" asked Mr. Pertell of the
girls, when he had heard the story.

"Oh, yes," returned Alice. "My nerves are all right now. We are getting
used to such experiences," she laughed.

"I am all right too," Ruth agreed. "But it was a trying moment."

Flaming Arrow stood to one side and looked on interestedly while the
remainder of the drama was being filmed, and then he showed the players
the road to his lumber camp. He invited them to come over to it, but as
the hour was late and as Mr. Pertell wanted to get a few more scenes in
a different locality, it was decided to defer the visit to some other
time.

Flaming Arrow said good-bye, and went off with the dead wild cat slung
over his shoulder.

"Isn't he just fine!" exclaimed Alice, as she watched him stalking over
the drifts on his snowshoes.

"I'm getting jealous!" laughed Paul, and there was more of meaning in
his remark than his outward manner indicated.

"Well, I do like him!" Alice went on. "He is so big and strong and
manly. And he can shoot straight!"

"Hereafter I'll bring along a gun every time we come out," vowed Paul.
"And I'm going to take shooting lessons."

"Yah! Dot vould be a goot t'ing," decided Mr. Switzer. "I gets me too a
gun!"

"Gracious! The game around here had better seek new quarters!" laughed
Alice. "Next we'll be having Mr. Bunn and Mr. Sneed taking up the
calling of Nimrod."

Mr. DeVere was rather disturbed when he heard the story of the wildcat,
and once more he spoke seriously of taking his daughters out of moving
picture work.

"I really am afraid something will happen to you," he said. "I think you
had better resign. I can earn enough for all of us now, for Mr. Pertell
has given me another advance in salary."

"Oh, Daddy! We simply couldn't give it up!" cried Alice. "Could we,
Ruth?"

"I wouldn't like to give it up," responded Ruth, quietly. She was always
less demonstrative than her sister. "And really, Daddy, we don't run
into danger."

"I know, my dear, but danger seems to have formed a habit, of late, of
seeking you out," said the actor. "However, we will wait a few days. I
suppose it would b