"We must keep an eye out the rest of the time we're here," said Billy,
after the company had settled down again around the fire.

"Why?" asked Bluff, looking up from admiring the sleek fur of his prize.

"The brutes often hunt in couples, you know. This was the mother, just
as I had an ijee, and she's got half-grown cubs around somewhere. If the
mate's near by he may give us a call sooner or later."

Bluff's hand had stolen out toward his gun at these words.

"Here! No more of that, my lad!" said Mr. Mabie. "You've had your fling,
and come out of it mighty lucky. Don't try it again while I'm around,
please. If any more uninvited visitors drop in, you leave them to the
rest of us."

But there was no further alarm. During the night some of them declared
they heard strange cries off in the woods, which Mr. Mabie said must
have been the whining of the panther cubs, looking in vain for their
mother.

Frank was distressed.

"I hope they're really big enough to forage for themselves. If there's
anything I dislike it's to shoot bird or beast that has young depending
upon it. Perhaps the old male may look after them," he suggested.

"Well," smiled Mr. Mabie, "I hardly think that will prove to be the
case; at least they don't, as a rule. But I've got an idea the cubs are