omed them gladly.

"You are just in time," he panted. "I couldn't have held out much
longer. My rifle dropped in the snow, and is good for nothing. Shoot the
creature, if you can."

At sight of the rescuers, the catamount had swerved to one side, and was
now creeping along in a half circle, evidently afraid to venture nearer.

Jerry took aim--unerringly, as he thought--and pulled the trigger. He
missed, however, and when Brick and Hamp fired, with no better success,
the beast retreated with great leaps.

"Don't let him get away," yelled Jerry, excitedly. "As long as he's
alive, he'll give us trouble. We've got to finish him up now. Come on,
fellows."

Off dashed the lad on a run, and Brick and Hamp followed. They skimmed
over a dozen yards of ice and then slackened speed. Just ahead was a
small, bluish spot, but none noticed it.

"Confound the beast!" exclaimed Jerry. "I never saw anything slide out
of sight so quickly."

He ran on for several yards, heedless of his peril. Then he struck the
thin shell of ice on an air-hole, and like a flash he vanished from the
eyes of his horrified companions.

CHAPTER VIII.

MR. RAIKES. OF PORTLAND.

The catastrophe was one of appalling swiftness. Brick and Hamp could
scarcely realize what had happened. The hole that had swallowed Jerry up
yawned at their very feet.

It was less than two feet in diameter, and its edges were jagged. The
surface of the deep, blue water went swirling around and around, as
though an under-current existed. Doubtless there was one, and it had
sucked Jerry far down. He did not reappear, though the boys strained
their eyes on the fatal spot. The seconds went by--twenty--half a
minute.

Hamp uttered a groan of agony.

"Jerry, Jerry!" he cried aloud.

"Look out!" exclaimed Brick, as he dragged him back. "You'll go in, too.
It's all up with poor Jerry. There's no hope--not an atom."

His voice quavered and broke; he dashed a tear from his eye. Hamp was
crying, too. Loud sobs burst from his bosom. Just then the stranger
reached the spot. He had seen the accident from a distance.

"Which one was it?" he demanded. "Which one? Tell me his name, quick."

It was a strange request, and he spoke in eager, excited tones. But the
boys were too much concerned to notice such a trifle.

"It--it was Jerry," sobbed Hamp.

"Jerry who?"

"Jerry--Jerry Brenton."

"Brenton? Ah!"

The man's