at victim, he will come
over here for another nice young, juicy goat."

"Oh, my darlings! He will pick them out," wailed Daisy, "because they
are the very youngest and will make the most tender eating."

"Don't cry, Daisy. He hasn't gotten them yet, and he won't while I am
alive," said Billy Whiskers.

"Nor while I breathe either!" exclaimed Billy Junior, not to be
outdone.

When the panther had finished his meal, he stood up, looked around,
licked his chops, switched his tail, and called for his mate to come
and join him in the feast. But that call was his undoing. His mate
could not get out of her cage, but the panther's keeper recognized his
voice and hastily calling some men and guards, he started to find the
panther by going in the direction of the call. As the moon had come up
in full glory, they had no trouble in locating him.

They found him none too soon, for just as they appeared at the fence,
the panther started toward the goats to select another victim. He had
his eye on one of the Twins, that Billy Whiskers could see. Brave as
could be, Billy walked out of the herd and straight at the panther,
intending to try to drive him away at least, but he knew it would be
almost impossible as these beasts are strong, as quick as a cat and
are bloodthirsty fighters.

When Billy Junior saw his father advancing on the panther, he too left
the herd and walked out by Billy. Then Stubby and Button followed.
This in no way frightened the panther. He still advanced on them,
crouching as he came and ready to spring at any moment.

Billy Senior whispered, "We must make a rush at him or he will spring
over our heads and we can't reach him. When I say three, spring at him
prepared to rip him open with your horns. I will do the same. We can't
both miss him. And, Stubby, you go for his neck, and, Button, you try
to scratch his eyes out, so he can't see where to jump. One, two--"

But what had happened? The panther was jerked back off his feet and
lay sprawling on his back, his feet in the air. This is what had
occurred:

The men had come up to the yard behind the panther and goats so none
of the animals had seen them. The man with the lasso had climbed the
fence and thrown it, catching the panther around the neck just as he
was about to spring, while the other men stood with pistols aimed and
ready to fire did the lasso fail to go around the panther's neck and
pull him back in time to save the goats.

"Gee! Those two g