ature, and, without pausing
to look behind, dashed for camp at his top speed. The beast was
actually in pursuit, but it stopped at a distance of thirty feet, and
uttered a yowl of disappointment.

Brick and Hamp had armed themselves, having heard Jerry's first yell of
terror. Hamp lifted his rifle, and fired at random. He missed, of
course, but the flash and the report scared the savage creature away.

It was a full minute before Jerry could talk intelligibly.

"It would have scared the bravest man alive to be jumped on so
suddenly," he declared. "I was kneeling on the ice, and the brute nearly
had me. Cracky! I thought I was a goner."

"What was it?" asked Hamp. "A catamount?"

"Yes; the biggest one I ever saw. You can bet he's hungry, and savage,
too."

"Do you think it's the same animal that was after us night before last?"
asked Brick.

"I reckon so," Jerry admitted, reluctantly. "It must have come across
the ice. There's just one thing about it, fellows. If we expect to have
any peace we've got to kill the creature."

"That's easier said than done," replied Hamp. "I wish I had taken
careful aim when I had the chance. Now the measly varmint will lurk
around here all night, and keep us from sleeping."

"We'll do our best to put him to sleep with a bullet," declared Jerry.
"Keep a stiff upper lip, Brick. We've got long odds on our side."

"I'm not afraid," Brick protested, stoutly. "I can kill a catamount as
easy as a deer if I get the chance."

It was the chance that was wanting, however. Evidently, the beast had
no intention of being killed. He was hungry enough to hang onto the
forlorn chance of a I meal, but not once did he show himself, though the
boys I lay behind the fire for an hour, watching with cocked and I
loaded rifles.

"The cunning fellow is lurking close by, you may be sure," said
Jerry. "If we watch long enough we'll catch him in the act of snatching
the deer."

"It's no fun to sit here in the cold," replied Hamp, as he tossed a
log on the fire. "How snug it looks inside the cabin. Confound that
catamount!"

"You fellows turn in if you want to," suggested Jerry. "I'll keep guard
for a couple of hours."

"No; I'll stick it out with you," replied Hamp.

"And so will I," added Brick.

Half an hour slipped away in silence. The drowsiness of the boys
increased. They felt strongly tempted to go to bed, and leave the
catamount in possession of the camp.

Suddenly they were startled t