CHAPTER XIII
AN INVADER IN CAMP
Will dashed madly toward the river bank. It happened that he wassomewhat below the point where Jerry's mishap had come about. Hence, hewas able to reach the edge of the stream in a dozen seconds.
Even that short time had been enough to sweep the imperiled lad past theplace. Will was thrilled with horror to see his chum in the midst of thechurning current, trying to cling to a slippery rock, from whichinsecure hold he was being gradually but surely sucked by the fiercepower exerted by the rushing stream.
Never had the roar of the falls sounded more terrible to poor Will thanwhen he saw Jerry suspended, as it were, above the great drop. Once helost his hold, he must be swept irresistibly over the edge, down tothose cruel rocks below.
Will would have foolishly attempted to reach his chum had he chanced tobe opposite the place where Jerry hung on with the desperation ofdespair. As it was, he could do nothing, which was just as well, forthere must only have been two of them given over to the river once heventured into that mill-race.
"Help! Oh, help!" he shrieked.
The roar of the cataract must have muffled his call, so that it mightjust as well have been a whisper.
Just as Will was about to give up in despair, and count Jerry as good aslost, he made a sudden discovery. Another figure had appeared on thebank, and just at a point opposite the rock to which Jerry clung.
"Reddy! Save him! save him!" cried Will, wringing his hands.
Then he became mute with suspense. The cowboy did not recklessly rushinto the boiling flood, for he knew only too well that such a coursecould not help the imperiled one. Instead, Will saw him whirling hisrope about his head with lightning-like haste.
His heart in his eyes, Will continued to stare, holding his very breath.He saw the coils of rope fly out just as when Reddy was giving hisexhibition in camp. Not far did they have to speed, for Jerry was closeto the shore.
"Oh! what luck! He's done it! He's done it! Jerry has the rope now, andhe is coming in, hand over hand! Bully! bully! bully!"
Will was so excited that he fairly danced up and down as he shoutedthese words aloud. Then, bethinking himself of what a magnificentpicture he was losing, he took several steps in the direction of thespot where his camera lay. Stopping hastily, as his affection for hischum more than counterbalanced his love for an effective scene, heturned around and hurried to join the others.
Jerry was ashore, and wringing the hand of Reddy, when Will arrived.
Regardless of the rescued boy's wet clothes, Will threw his arms aroundhim.
"Oh! you gave me such a fright, Jerry! I'm quivering all over! How luckyReddy happened to be here, and with his rope, too!" After saying whichhe turned his attention to the smiling cowboy, and squeezed his handardently.
"I sure beat my record that time, boys. I've roped some queer things,but never a feller that was going whoopin' over a falls. Don't know whyI slung the old lariat over my arm when I started up here to see whatluck Jerry had. Mighty glad now I did, though. It'd been purty hard toget him out with only a stick to stretch over."
Reddy was extremely modest, and only too willingly agreed not to say aword about the mishap and rescue to any of the others; and Will was alsobound to secrecy by Jerry.
Back in the woods they made a fire, where Jerry succeeded in drying hisclothes.
"Anyhow, I saved that fish," he announced, with a satisfied shake of thehead.
Will looked at the cowboy inquiringly.
"Sure thing he did. When he came ashore he had that line fast in hishand, and pulled the trout in before he'd even shake. He's a real sport,all right," said Reddy, with admiration in his manner.
"It seems as though these things are born in one. Now, I'd have droppedmy rod the very first thing, and howled for help," remarked Will.
"How about your camera?" asked Jerry wickedly.
"H'm! That's a different thing. But when I saw you go in I did let thatfall. Luckily, no damage was done. My heart would be broken if theblessed little black box got out of shape. But I've one picture of youon that log," announced Will.
"And that will be enough to give me a clammy feeling every time I lookat it," nodded Jerry, who was in secret more shaken by his recentterrible experience than he cared to show.
They went down a little later, Jerry carrying his two dearly-earnedtrout. And when the others praised the fisherman that evening at supperfor supplying their camp table, they little dreamed how near theirhard-working chum had come to disaster in his efforts to land theenticing finny beauties of the river.
Besides the trout, they enjoyed mutton that night, for Frank's mountainsheep was brought into use. Perhaps it was tough, perhaps the flavor didnot strike the boys quite as favorably as some mutton they had eaten athome, but such trifles could not dampen their enthusiasm a particle, andthey voted the meal a grand success all around.
Seated about the blaze afterward, they chatted until late. Bluff wasinclined to be a bit moody, and sat by himself, listening to all thatwas said, but taking no share in the conversation.
Frank noticed that he seemed to fondle his rifle more than usual, and hebelieved the other must be thinking of the elk he had shot, but whichhad been stolen by those wandering thieves of Crees.
"He's still worrying about that butcher knife of his," whispered Jerry,nudging Frank as he spoke. "I wonder will the fellow ever forget it?"
"Now, I was watching him, and, to tell the truth, I fancy Bluff hasbecome aroused to the delight of bringing down big game. That elk was arevelation to him. See how he listens while Billy is telling of thepanther tracks he saw not a great way off. I wouldn't put it past Bluffto aspire to knocking over a panther if the chance ever came his way.
"Huh! I hope he is lucky enough to get a fatal shot in, then; for one ofthose gentry is apt to maul a fellow good and hard if only wounded.Billy has been telling of some fierce times he's had with the beasts.His arms are all scarred up from deep cuts made by the claws of apanther years ago," remarked Jerry.
"Whew! Hear what he says? will you?" remarked Frank.
"Why, yes, kid," observed the old cowboy, in answer to a question Bluffhad put, "sometimes I've knowed 'em to jump into a camp and snatch themeat right from under the nose of a feller. Let a painter git good an'hungry, an' he ain't afraid of anythin' but fire. Then, ag'in, I'veknowed 'em to act as cowardly as coyotes. I kinder reckon the season hasconsiderable to do with their actin'."
"But that was only one man. The beast wouldn't dare jump in a camp likethis, no matter how hungry he might be?" continued Bluff, who seemedstrangely interested in the subject, Frank thought.
The old cowpuncher laughed as though amused.
"That's somethin' I'd hate to commit myself on, younker. All I say is apainter ain't to be depended on. He might prove a coward, like somecats, and again you'd be fair astonished at his darin'. Long ago I madeup my mind never to give him more of a chance than I could help. It'swar to the knife between me and any such prowlin' critter. I can't gitmy gun workin' too quick to please me when I sees the yaller eyes of apainter hoverin' round my camp."
"Are their eyes always yellow?" asked Bluff eagerly.
"I reckons they are, kid; leastways all that I ever see was marked thatway," replied the cowboy, reaching out for a brand with which to lightthe cigarette he had been rolling between his fingers, just as Reddy wasalso doing at the time.
"Like those yonder, do you mean?" said Bluff, pointing behind Billy, toa point where the dense thicket came close to the border of the camp.
Every eye was instantly turned in that direction. Frank himself wasthrilled when he discovered that there were twin glowing eyes amongthose bushes, eyes that had all the attributes of the cat tribe.
Various exclamations arose from the group.
"By gum! It's a painter, sure as you live!" said Billy calmly.
"Never heard of one so bold!" whispered Reddy hoarsely, feeling for theweapon he usually carried attached to his belt.
> "Everybody sit quiet, and see what he means to do. He won't attack us,but it may be you'll see him make a jump for the balance of that sheepover yonder. The scent of the game has aroused his hunger. Look at himraise his head to see!"
Mr. Mabie spoke these words in a low but tense tone. He was more or lessexcited by the strange actions of the prowling panther.
"I reckon it's a mother, with hungry cubs near by. She's just bound toget some grub for the kits, men or no men. Now, if you lie low, andwatch, I reckon you'll see something you never expected to see in yourborn days."
Billy sat there motionless. Only Frank saw the movement of Bluff when heraised his rifle, and while he would have warned his chum against thefolly of firing, before he could frame words to carry his meaning, thequick report came, causing a sensation among those around the fire.
The crouching beast, infuriated by receiving a sudden, painful wound,launched straight out, and landed in the midst of the campers!