ed to him, he got on his feet. At the same time he uttered a yell which had t

ily, there was one not far off-a dead cedar. He managed to reach it just ahead of the lynx and began scrambling into the low growing branches. T

repeater," was his thought as he flung the weapon full at the h

ould better have taken his chances in a race toward his companions, for of course a lynx can climb as well as any wild cat. In fact, Ralph ha

desperately. "Gracious, look at those claws! I've go

re no leafy boughs to encumber his progress. But unfortunately, this made it equally easy for his[65] assailant to pursue him. Ralph saw tha

seemed, he might break off easily. Reaching above him, the boy gave it a st

his luckily found weapon and brought it

inging there, glared up at him more menacingly than before. Far from injuring

lynx began climbing again. Once more Ralph raised his club[66] and as the ani

ly head," he muttered v

ynx, snarling and spitting, scurrying down the tree. But with such good will had he delivered the blow that his c

w, I'm done for," thought R

stupefied. As Ralph gingerly prepared to descend, however, hoping to pass by the brute, she gave a snarl and slipped with cat-like agility[67] to the ground. There, at the foot of

y shots to attract the attention of the bunch and I guess shouting won't do much go

manifest, except that the lynx growled and snarled and lashed its stumpy tail angrily. Once it set up

e-" he thought; but he di

e ammonia "squirt-gun" that he carried occasionally when traveling as a protection against ugly-natured dogs. All at once, in an inside pocket, his hand encountered a small bottle. Ralph almost uttered a cry of joy. A sudden flash of in

le, "but, by Jove, I'll try it. Desperate situations call for des

once more. With[69] trembling fingers Ralph drew the cork of the bottle, and a pungent odor filled the air. The reek of

loser to him, and to sit still and watch the ugly brute clambering toward him was enough to upset the stoutest nature. Ralph wait

enly he c

hat, yo

. With a scream of rage and pain the blinded animal dropped, clawing and scratching through the[70] dead limbs, to the ground. Landing o

f the maddened creature, there came a

! oh,

y! Come on quick!" shouted R

r, still shouting, he a

s ready! I'm t

adly off toward the trail. As she dashed along she pawed her tingling eyes, trying in

dashed after, making the uproar that had alarmed and startled the professor and Mountain Jim and their young companion. But it was not till the

r, turned a somersault, and just as the rest of the party rode up

g, "I guess we've got at least one