doing his
best to get out of the hole.

"I'll bet he's mad," said Snap.

"One of the dead wildcats is with him," said Snap. "That will
give him something to eat."

"He'll not think of eating just now," answered the doctor's son.
"He knows he is in a bad fix."

They waited a minute longer and then the lion became quiet. At
last the three boy hunters ventured into the clearing and Shep,
with his gun raised, walked slowly to the edge of the pit.

Suddenly a fearful roar rent the air, echoing far and wide across
the mountains. The lion had discovered the doctor's son. His mane
bristled and he showed his cruel teeth to the full.

"Can he---do you think he can get out?" asked Snap.

"Hardly, or he'd be out already," answered Shep. "Let us pull
those branches away. They might give him some sort of a foothold."

All three of the boys came up and gazed down on the captured beast.
They hauled the tree branches away and threw the second dead
wildcat into the pit. Snap did this, and it seemed to cause the
lion some surprise. He shut his mouth, his eyes began to blink,
and presently he bent down and commenced to feed on one of the
carcasses.

"He knows he is a prisoner," cried Snap. "See, he's acting just as
if he was in the circus." For the monarch of the forest had laid
down, with the meat between his heavy fore paws.

"I've got an idea," said Shep, looking around. "There are a great
number of flat stones on the mountain side. Let us shove them
down here and pile up a sort of wall around the top of the pit.
That will surely keep the lion in."

This was considered a good suggestion, and all the lads set to work
without delay. Some of the stones were so large it took two to
lift them. They made an excellent wall, and inside of an hour
the boys had a barrier around the top of the pit three feet high.

"I don't think he'll get out in a hurry," said Shep. "But to make
sure we can cut some poles and lay them over the stones and pile
more stones on top."

"Humph! Why didn't you mention the poles first?" said Snap.

"I didn't think of it, Snap."

The saplings were cut and placed in a row over the top of the pit
and then some stones were put on top of these. Evidently the lion
did not like to have his light and air cut off, and he commenced
to roar again. But this the boys did not mind, for they now knew
they had him fast.

It goes without saying that all the boys were delighted over their
catch.