in this section there were few that could boast a girth of more than a
foot; but this one was really what Bumpus called a "whopper;" and Davy
sported among the higher branches with all the delight of a child with a
new toy; giving the others more than one thrill as he swooped this way
and that with reckless abandon.

But suddenly he sent out a shout that caused every fellow to take
notice; and Bumpus actually turned pale with apprehension, as he vainly
looked around for some sort of weapon with which to defend himself;
because he always believed he must be a shining mark for any hungry wild
beast, on account of his plumpness.

"Oh!" shouted the boy in the tree, "a panther, fellers, a really true
panther!"




CHAPTER II

THAD GOES AFTER THE YELLOW EYES


"He says a panther is up there!" echoed Giraffe, stretching that long
neck of his at a fearful rate, in the endeavor to locate the animal in
question.

All of them became immediately intensely interested in the further
doings of Davy Jones. The boy chanced to be in a position where he
could not apparently pass down the trunk of the tree, for fear lest he