to 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 of
those 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 a
panther 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 Bluff
had put, "sometimes I've knowed 'em to jump into a camp and snatch the
meat 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've
knowed 'em to act as cowardly as coyotes. I kinder reckon the season has
considerable to do with their actin'."

"But that was only one man. The beast wouldn't dare jump in a camp like
this, no matter how hungry he might be?" continued Bluff, who seemed
strangely 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 a
painter ain't to be depended on. He might prove a coward, like some
cats, and again you'd be fair astonished at his darin'. Long ago I made
up my mind never to give him more of a chance than I could help. It's
war to the knife between me and any such prowlin' critter. I can't git
my gun workin' too quick to please me when I sees the yaller eyes of a
painter hoverin' round my camp."