Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1899-04-12

N
the eyes of a cougar.
sIf | were drowning you would swim
out into great lake. too, like Grand
father Gray Beaver did. wouldn't your
the girl asked. She spoke Indignantly,
for that day she had heard an old man
say that boys like Kanuoga, who went
10 school in the reservation instead of
into the forest, could never be brave
Indians, and she was sure that her
brother was very brave.
1t was her show of Indignation and
her eager confidence that caused him
to laugh now and to lean back.
She waited but he did not answer.
With both hands clasped over his cop
per-colored shin. and one bare foot
raised slightly above the log on which
he was sitting, he stared into the great
restless eyes that looked down at him
from the nearest limb. He was with
out weapon of any kind, and the
cougar was full grown. with n body
dry-looking and gaunt with hunger.
Although its glance was for the mo-
ment fixed on him he could see that 1t
had been watching Aakloo and that its
interest was still centered in her, as If
1t had chosen her for its victim. He
was seized with sudden fear that she
might move unexpectedly and thus
cause the creature to spring upon her;
yet he sat there seemingly unable to
speak or to think what ought to be
done.
You would, wouldn't you?" asked
the girl Her voice broke the fascina-
ting spell of those terrible eyes. Kan
noga knew that she would turn in u
moment to see why he had not an
swered, and in order not to direct her
attention to the panther he lowered his
glance and met hers.
But there was something in his face
that made her afraid, and he looked
with startling intentness far beyond
her, down the long, darkening stretch
of deserted shore, toward the skin-eov-
cred teepee by the spring, where Mar
tala, their mother, and Sis-sos -ka, their
father, lived during the hot summer.
"Stand still.' said Kannoga, as calm
" as he could. 1t cost him great eff
fort to remain quietly there, without
looking up, when he knew what was
overhead; but the effort caused him to
think more clearly.
'Shut your eyes," he said suddenly.
"What for?" asked Aakloo, frighten
ed still more at the unaccountable
change In his voice.
For moment his fingers tightened
convulsively over his shin, then grad
ually relaxed and unclasped. He low
cred his upraised foot, moving 1t slow
.ly, very slowly, down beside the log,
and when 1t rested firmly in the sand
he reached cautiously forward and
caught the girl by the arm.
I'VE shall play new game" he said
then, and the strange, eager suggestion
of a smile that flashed over his face re-
assured her.
"Ohr' she exclaimed, and at once
shut her eyes.
Kannoga now looked steadily at the
cougar, while he turned his sister about
80 that she faced along the shore.
walk as slowly as you can-with
your eyes shut" he said.
She started slowly enough, but the
fierce eyes overhead began to watch
her intently again and to grow restless,
while q yellow foot advanced uneasily
along the limb and broad tawny jaws
stretched farther and farther down
ward as she moved away.
But Kannoga silently held up his
hand and waved it In the air. AT this
the panthers attention, attracted by
the unexpected and rapid movement,
was withdrawn from the girl.
Go faster" said the boy; 'go faster
She was out of reach now; he could
tell by the fainter sound of her bare
feet In the sand.
RUM he called. "Open your eyes
and run, but don't look back, and don't
stop till you stand in the tepee with
Mar-tala."
'Is that all of the new game, Kan
noga ~ she asked, doubtfully.
NO" he answered; there is more"
Meanwhile he still sat in the same
place, watching the cougar and holding
its attention by the constant move
ment of his slender arm and Of his
grimy, tattered sleeve.