ROUNDING UP CATS IN COLORADO 



be practically inaccessible, and we would have 

 all our pains for nothing. 



To drive the cat from its position into a 

 better one was more than a doubtful possibil- 

 ity, as it was likely to run back into the cave. 

 So I took a chance and fired. Like a crash of 

 lightning above their heads, the excited dogs 

 heard the report and knew that "there was 

 something doing." The wounded cat gave a 

 sudden leap into space and fell among them. 

 If there is any question about a "cat having 

 nine lives/' it seems that the dogs were bound 

 to be on the safe side, for they mauled the 

 remains until I began to fear that the fur 

 might be damaged before I could come to 

 the rescue. Through a fatal curiosity, the 

 other cat peeped over the precipice, and paid 

 for its rashness with its hide, which I added 

 to my collection. The job of skinning the 

 cats I turned over to the guide. 



The big dogs sat around in sullen dignity, 

 particularly avoiding any familiarity with 

 53 



