"I reckon it's a mother, with hungry cubs near by. She's just bound to
get some grub for the kits, men or no men. Now, if you lie low, and
watch, I reckon you'll see something you never expected to see in your
born days."

Billy sat there motionless. Only Frank saw the movement of Bluff when he
raised his rifle, and while he would have warned his chum against the
folly of firing, before he could frame words to carry his meaning, the
quick 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!




CHAPTER XIV

THE COWBOY GUIDE


Everybody was in motion at once.

Some went over backward, regardless of appearances; others rolled aside,
bent upon placing some little distance between themselves and the
invader. Bluff was trying to work the mechanism of his gun in order to
secure a second shot, but as so often happens when the hunter is
excited, he failed to accomplish what should have been an easy change.

The maddened panther had crouched again after landing close to the fire.