He made a step or two
forward holding his revolver levelled, with his finger on the trigger,
ready to shoot, yet hesitating, lest he should hit Kiddie.

"Keep back!" Kiddie repeated. "I've sure got him."

The puma was rolling and writhing in helplessness, snarling viciously,
and now and then howling, as it tried to rise to its feet. Rube could
see the brute's big round eyes flashing brightly at first and then
becoming smaller and dimmer.

"Mind it don't give you a scratch with them claws," he cautioned Kiddie.

Kiddie stood back, and the moonlight fell upon the puma's sleek black
coat.

"Biggest lion I've ever seen," remarked Rube. "I'm only wishin' it had
bin me 'stead of you as put the bullet in him."

"You can give him one right now, to finish him," said Kiddie.

"He ain't needin' another," said Rube. "Besides, 'tain't th' same
thing. I guessed you was sound asleep when I come outer the wigwam.
Puma was lyin' along the branch right over you, gettin' ready ter drop
down on you. I reckoned your life was in danger, an' I wanted ter save
you, see? That's what I'm allus wantin' t' do; but you never gives me
a chance. How did you know the brute was thar, Kiddie? How did you
happen ter wake an' git out your gun an' shoot so mortal quick--'fore
I'd time ter lift my arm an' press the trigger?"

"Well," returned Kiddie, "I dunno exactly. But I've a notion that I
knew the critter was right there long before you did, Rube. I'd heard
him crawlin' along among the bushes an' nosin' around about the traps.
He was some wise, though, after his experience of last night. He
wasn't havin' any truck with them traps. He was kind of suspicious of
'em, I guess, an' preferred to hunt his own food alive. So he got on
ter the scent of the camp an' came sneakin' right here. I've a notion
he didn't like the look of the teepee where you were sleepin'--thought
maybe it was another trap; no more did he find any attraction in the
camp fire. Thar was a live man, however, easy t' get at, under this
yer tree. He came t' investigate overhead, an' was lyin' along that
branch when you oozed outer the teepee an' diverted his attention by
kickin' your foot against a tin pannikin, makin' noise enough t' waken
the seven sleepers. If I hadn't been pretty quick with my gun just
then, I guess that puma wouldn't have hesitated t' make a meal of you."

"Allus allowin' that I didn't stop him," rejoined Rube.

He watched the puma giving a