were half the distance to the storehouse, the hungry
beast was bounding after them, screeching hideously at every jump.

In sheer desperation Jerry wheeled around, and saw the ugly head almost
within reach of his arms. Terror prompted him to try a last device. He
lifted the lantern and let it drive with all his might.

It struck the catamount on the foreshoulders, bounced off and rolled in
the snow. There was a sudden puff, an explosion and a dash of burning
oil in all directions. Then a series of hisses, and utter darkness.

On went the boys, groping blindly from side to side. The angle at the
storehouse bothered them, and they fell together in a confused heap.
Somehow or other they got disentangled, and by pure luck Hamp and Jerry
hit the tunnel and made good time toward the next curve.

Brick was not so fortunate. He went head first into the storehouse, and
only discovered the mistake when his arms struck the rocky sides of the
cavity.

There was no time to retreat, for he heard, close by, an angry snarl
from the catamount. With almost the swiftness of a lightning-flash he
remembered that there was a smaller cavity beyond the storehouse
proper. Could he squeeze into it?

He did not stop to consider, but plunged forward at once. He found the
hole, and in a trice his arms and head were through. The rest was a
tight fit, but he kicked and scrambled, paying no heed to bruises or
lacerations. At last his legs were free, and he dropped down between the
rocks.

There was barely room enough for him to squat in an upright position,
and even then his head scraped a sharp point of rock. But surely the
catamount could squeeze after him.

He shouted hoarsely as he heard a sniffing, whining noise close by,
followed by a blood-curdling screech. He believed that his companions
had fled and left him to his fate. He had matches in his pocket, and
almost unconsciously he drew one out and struck it.

It was well that he did so. The catamount had already gained the larger
cavity beyond. His wicked head, with its flattened ears, was just
gliding into the crevice that led to Brick's retreat. The lad uttered
yell after yell, and the brute paused. A moment later he retreated to
the outer mouth of the storehouse, for Brick had ignited his
handkerchief, and tossed the flaming mass forward.

The blaze showed Brick a slab of loose rock lying at his feet. He
snatched it up, and wedged it into the crevice with all his might. He
tore of