distance ahead. As they rode along, they gazed admiringly about them at the beauties of the rugged trail. The rough way soon left the tunnel-like formation of spru

, a striped animal sprang from behind a patch of brush with a

5

the boys, headed by

houted Ralph. "

ted off as nimbly as mountain goats among the trees. The gray and reddish form of the wild cat was speedily lost sight of; b

ony over the creature's head, in Western fashion, he dismounted. Hardware and Persimmons followed his example.

ke home before we've been on the trail ten minutes!" exclaimed

s before you get 'em,"

They snorted and sniffed as if in terror of something, and R

k and quiet 'em; I'

cat, there was nothing for them to do but to obey; for if the ponies stampeded th

, as their comrade kept on alone. "Wild

is rifle clutched tightly, he slipped from trunk to trunk, his feet

d of him, came a sort of yelping cry, not

himself, coming to a halt and searching

ere noises as if two animals were in mortal combat in front of him. But sti

rt, a rabbit probably," mused Ralph. "Well, I'll cat

a formidable opponent, and he did not mean to risk wounding the animal slightly and infuriating it. He was raising his ri

ost like a pistol shot, and R

its prey along, and I'll not get wi

. Ralph's heart began to beat a little quicker. It appeared that the cat, far from fleeing, was going to show fight. But Ralph, aft

sight. A lithe, tawny creature of reddish color, with oddly tufted ears, was crouched over the dead and torn body of a rabbit. It had been savagely rending the sm

!" gasped the boy to himself as he gazed at the cre

pause, while his heart thumped in lively fashion. The great yellow eyes of the lynx, whose tufted ears lay flat against its head, regarded him with blazing hatr

thought Ralph, bringing the weapon to bea

rigger, but, to his amaz

an instant to fuss with it," was the thought that fl

opelled toward him by chilled steel springs. Ralph gave a hasty, almost involuntary step backward.

here was a crash in the brush just beyond where he lay, and the boy realized that his fall had been the luckiest thing in the world for him. The lynx had overlea