ide, and
saw the dog and a mass of gray fur mixed up in a writhing rolling combat
that tore up the grass and raised a cloud of dust and mold and leaves.
Before he could get a chance at a shot the Indian had dashed in and with a
single blow of his axe had ended the fight.

When the dog's owner succeeded in separating the dog from the dead animal,
no small task, for the former was made furious by the wounds he had
received, Rand saw the prey to be a short, heavy creature with stumpy tail
and tassled ears.

"Wild cat," muttered the Indian, turning the dead animal over with his
mocassin, so that its formidable claws could be seen, "easy killum dog."

Examining the wounds of the dog, which were not serious, he pointed to the
cat and administered several severe kicks to the dog, which ran snarling
toward the camp, while the guide picked up the body and returned to where
his companion stood fastening his bundle, having apparently taken no
interest in the contest. There was a short exchange of gutterals and then
each of the Indians stooping down placed a band of strong cloth around his
forehead, slipped it under the cord around the wood, and, with the aid of
his companion, easily raised it to his back and walked off to camp as if
it was a burden of no moment.

"Well, I see ye met up with a cat," said Swiftwater, as Rand and the
Indians returned, "and at that ye only got the smallest of the tribe."

"If the others can fight any harder than this specimen, I don't believe I
want to meet any of them. I thought there was a child in the thicket."

"Lots of these cat varmints have voices jest like a human. Ye can't tell a
panther from a squallin' child sometimes."

Bacon, canned beef, potatoes and coffee had already been brought from the
boats and the Indians soon had a rousing fire which soon heated the stones
to red heat. Three of these had been joined together to make a sort of
three corner oven and into this the potatoes were placed, while over
another portion of the fire the bacon was fried and the coffee boiled.

A large tarpaulin had been brought ashore and spread upon the sands, and
upon this, or upon stones placed thereon, the party seated themselves and
ate their repast from tin or thin wooden plates. A day of excitement and
vigorous exercise had furnished them with strong appetites and the rather
coarse food of the camp was greatly relished.

Arrangements for the night had been made by raising a large tarpaulin over