THE PANTHER'S CUB. 85 



see they had well-nigh fit out, Yowler and me, thinkin' 

 they might blame us, stepped out, and I hain't seen them 

 Injins, nur that air painter since, though I've heer'en tell 

 that Tiger Tail ware lookin' for me about the Mecaco 

 this summer." 



" And if he catches you, you will not be able to raise 

 hair either," said Jackson. 



" Ef he does," answered Mike, laughing. 



" But what became of the other sucking cub after the 

 Indians had killed its mother and brother ?" 



" I went back arter it that very same night, and found 

 it jist whar the she-painter had left it when she tuck my 

 trail. It was a meowin' away in the woods all alone, and 

 I felt kind a sorry for it, and carried it into the Fort at 

 Tampa Bay and guv it to the Colonel thar, whar it 

 growed iip, and got so big and saucy that it licked the 

 hull fort one day and then cleared." 



