The morning times., 1895-08-28
In fhS Lions" D0n.
(continuedfrom yesterday y'sEvening Times. }

what in the world can these be, TOm?"
he asked They're not rabbits nor squir-
rels, sure They look like kittens OF some
kind of wildcat; but who ever saw even
a tame cat with such lovely fur as this?
They're not much bigger than rats, but
just see what teeth and claws they've
gotl"
Tom could not answer, as he curiOusIy
examined the soft, fluffy things, which
bit, scratched and resisted handling with
all their little might.
II can't imagine what they are,'' he
said at last IF l didn't know that the
jaguar-caled a tiger down sOuth-never
comes so far north as this, / might think
they were cubs OF that kind 1 give it
up, but let's leave the mutton TIL to-
morrow and take the pretty things to
camp Maybe some of the old hunters
there will know what they are.
The mystery was not to remain so long
! unsolved, however With some trouble
and amid much puerile scratching and
mewing the boys ma uaged to tie the
| legs of two of the puguaciOus yOuuelings,
| which now lay helpless on the ground,
| while they We're occupied with the third,
when close at hand, between the
| thicket and the cliff, rcsOu uded
! harsh, screaming cry OF rage. aud before
! either OF the startled youths could grasp his
| gun, a great, ia why gray body shot through
| the air, and knocked them both down as IL
| felled by a lightning stroke Then pTovi-
| denually, not stopping to dispatch her de-
spoilers, a fuH-growD puma picked up
one of the recumbent cubs and darted into
the cave.
Quick, Joe! Quick for your life. It's
70 his feet
How twas done they could never tell,
but both the partially stunned boys manaG Ged
to seize their rifles before the eUra-ed
beast reappeared; aud When terrirIcauy
| snarliug, she bounded toward them, both
fired; and both, tremulous with fright,
scored q clean miss
Yet, the mother instinct was so strong
in the furious creature that She merely
caught up another cub in her mouth and
again gIided into the den.
Steady, brother, steadyr' gasped Tom.
Shoot while the brute is crawling out OF
the hole. It's a case Of life or death with
us now"
By a mighty effort Of VIII, forcing their
trembling nerves into quetude, the i'm
periled lads stood shoulder To shoulder
Win I44itS pbibttN4 SlldA-i4L 4CL llG cave :
mouth, aud the instant they caught tie
gleam OF the puma,s blazing eyes, both
again fired together, this time with true
aim; FOR, at the crack OF the guns, the fear
f,l beast, worthy under other circum-
stances Of a better fate. stretched quiver-
iugly out IN death, both bullets having
pierced her brain.
Weak as infuats, now that the danger
h.. J,9tT y 70
to the ground: and then Tor the first time
Tom noticed that a stream OF blood, run
ming down inside his coat sleeve, was
pouring over his left hand On further
examination il was found that his shoulder
had been rather severely lacerated by a pass
ing stroke OF the puma 5 claws when she
first charged. But the young fellow felt
too thankful for his own and Joe's escape
TO heed this somewhat serious wound,
and by the time it was bound up both boys
were themselves again.
Dragging the great cats carcass out to
pelt as quickly as possible; and then, after
hanging the remains Of the mountain sheep
on limb beyond the reach of possible
prowIing grizzly, they set out for camp,
one carrying the puma skin and the other
the orphaned cub
afternoon To inspect the niue and was
III the cabin when the boys arrived shortly
after dark The youngsters were greatly
elated over their good luck and their father
seemed as proud OF them as If they had
/ discovered a bonanza.
As the only one present who had ever seen
puma kittens, l was obliged 10 give a little
lecture on naturalhiStory. which concluded
by saying IF those cubs live, boys. y0u'u
see them turn tue color Of their mother De-
fore winter comes The creature that yea
call mountain hon is The puma OF cougar
Many people ~ the Eastern States and can
ada call It panther or vul-ariy, painter
/ Bat there Is 10 panther in Amer sea- That IS
asTOttrd beast, much resembling tle leopard
and Is found only i'm A:r.ga. asa and The
East Indian archipelago"
The next morning Joe went Cut with one
Of the men and bUrro and brought In the
dead sheep. with skin and horns complete.
/ All hands, IN consequence, feated for sew
Z eTal days upon wild mutton, iU tLis ease.
I rather tat meat, but when taken Trrm a
yqunE and fat animal % is far superior. IN
. my estimation, 20 that OF either the elk or
buffalo
The cubs were nourished fora while by the
milk OF two goats kept IN camp; and two of
/ them, before they were soIdsiN months q fter-
ward, had become tame and pa yfUl as do
nie>tic eats, but the other was killed by
savage dog in less than a week after its
1 CIpture. re.-ChlcaEO News.
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