The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-08-22

pouch on his back, and Joe and Tiger
bringing up the rear. Both lads were
warmly clad and booted, for the
weather was unusually cold for March,
and there was still considerable snow
on the ground.
They travelled at steady, regular
pace, and it took them less than nm
hour to reach the beginning of the
hills, nearly four miles from Alpine.
Toward 6 o'clock they crossed the
highest eminence, and could sec, far
TO the eastward, the silvery streak
which marked the Susquehanna River.
The road was winding and lonely, and
was bordered on both sides by thick
forest. They had crossed the next
valley, and were toiling up the slope
ahead, when Tiger suddenly stopped,
uttered low growl, and then moved
on with tho hair rising along hisspino
from head to tail.
The boys were somewhat startled by
this strange proceeding.
"He smells something" said Andy.
''There can't be any wild animals in
the forest, l guess?" ...
"No, of course not" replied Joe,
uneasily. There are few bears and
wild cats back in the Conewago Noun
tains, but they never stray down here.
Come on, Tiger, good old fellowp'
Tiger allowed himself to be patted
on the head, and presently his hair
resumed it's normal attitude. He fol-
lowed the boys quietly up the hill and
down into the next valley into which
the road turned and ran parallel with
it.
The sun had now gone down, and
the valley was dusky with the gray
twilight.
The boys hurried along the road,
oppressed by vague feeling of un-
easiness, but they had barely covered
twenty yards when Tiger whined
piteously and ran ahead OF them with
his hair again in state of disturb
ance.
The boys stopped and looked at
each other in alarm, and that instant
blood-curdling screech rang through
the forest behind them.
''1t's catamolnt," cried Andy,
nothing else could make such a
noise. The hard winter has driven
the beast down from the mountains.
"What shall we do?" exclaimed Joe
hoarsely. "There's not house within
two miles, and we haven't thing TO
defend ourselves with. The brute is
on top of that hill we just left"
As he spoke the whatever
it was--cried again, this time in q
long, wailing key, like lost child in
distress. There was no doubt about
its being catamount or a panther,
and what was more it was coming
closer each second.
''Siss catch him, Tiger !" cried Joe,
but the dog only whined the more,
and crept closer to his master for pro-
lection.
The boys were terribly frightened,
as well they might be, and with a
hssty glance behind them they took
to their heels down the road, Andy
keeping tight hold of the mail bag.
1t was the very worst thing they
could have done, for before they had
covered a quarter of a mile the beast 8
horrible scream was heard twice in
succession, close behind them. A
third time it echoed through the for
est, and SO close at hand now that the
boys stopped and wheeled round in
desperation.
They heard sharp rustling OF
bushes, and then in the dim light they
saw a long, yellowish, gray object
bound into the road not twenty yards
away. Both shouted with all their
might, and the beast suddenly stopped
and crouched low on the frozen
ground. The boys could plainly see
its huge, ugly head and round, shin
ing eyes. Again it screamed, and
they shuddered from head to foot.
Andy picked up frozen clod and
took several steps forward, shouting
loudly. The creature held its ground
for an instant and then bounded back
into the forest with an angry cry. II
did not 60 far. The boys could see it.
yellow eyes shining through the
bushes.
"Where is Tiger?" cried Joe. sud
denly.
"riger must have got away from
him." whispered Joe, cor the brute
would not have turned back SO soon.
"Yes, it looks that way" said Andy
"Hullo!" he added suddenly, "w,
have just one chance left, Joe. d.
you remember the deserted cabin tha
used to stand down here in the mex
valley. We must make q rush to
that, and try to reach it before til,
brute overtakes us. The mail viii
miss connection, but we can't helI
that.
No sooner said than done. With tn,
mail pouch Hopping over his shoul
der, Andy ran down the hill at full
speed, and Joe kept even pace will
him. Faster'and faster they ran, tax
ing great leaps over the frozeI
ground, and every few seconds tn
horrible scream OF the panther RAM
in their ears. The brute was gaining
on them tremendously.
Near the base of the hill the,
stopped for an instant, and, wheeling
around, advanced on the creature witt