, but his grip was poor and the beast
shook itself clear with ease.

It was now that John Barrow showed himself to be a master of quick
resources. To fire his rifle at the wildcat would have meant taking the
risk of hitting Dick, and this the guide thought too perilous. Leaping
to the fire, he caught up a long, burning brand and rushed at the beast
with this.

To have a part of the fire thrust directly into its eyes was more than
the beast had bargained for, and as soon as it felt the flame it gave a
cry of alarm and fell back. As it did this Dick leaped to his feet and
sprang several feet away.

[Illustration: DICK AND THE WILDCAT.
_Rover Boys and the Mountains_.]

John Barrow was now free to shoot, and hurling the firebrand at the
wildcat, he caught up his rifle and blazed away in short order. The
wildcat had turned to retreat, but the guide was too quick for it, and
down went the beast with a shot through its head. It gave a shudder or
two, and then stretched out, dead.

"Is he--he dead?" panted Dick, when he felt able to speak.

"Reckon so," responded John Barrow. "But I'll make sure." And catching
up a club, he aimed a blow which crushed the animal's skull.

"That was a narrow escape," went on Dick. "If you hadn't come to my aid,
I'm afraid he would have done me up." And he shivered from head to foot.

"You want to be careful how you attack wildcats around here, lad. It
aint likely they'll tech you, if you don't tech them. But if you do,
why, look out, that's all."

"Do you think he would have sneaked off with the turkey? I was thinking
first he would attack you."

"Reckon he was after the game, and nuthin' more, Dick. He must have been
powerful hungry, or he wouldn't have come so close to us. He's a putty
big fellow," went on the guide, as he dragged the carcass closer to the
firelight.

The fire was burning low, and Dick lost no time in heaping on some of
the newly cut brushwood, and then he reloaded and the guide did the
same.

"Might have a mate around," suggested John Barrow. "We had better keep
our eyes peeled, or we may be surprised. Wonder what time it is?"

By consulting a watch they found it was just midnight. After the
excitement Dick felt quite sleepy, and inside of half an hour he
followed the guide's advice and laid down to rest--not under the tree,
however, but as close to the camp-fire as safety permitted.

Dick had requested John Barrow to call him in three hours, so that the
gui