The Last of the Plainsmen 



atious obstacles were little things preliminary to the 

 real work, to which he had now come. He was 

 calm and deliberate, and slid down the pine, walked 

 back to the leaning tree, and while resting a moment, 

 shook his lasso at Kitty. This action fitted him, 

 somehow; it was so compatible with his grim assur 

 ance. 



To me, and to Frank, also, for that matter, it was 

 all new and startling, and we were as excited as 

 the dogs. We kept continually moving about, Frank 

 mounted, and I afoot, to get good views of the 

 cougar. When she crouched as if to leap, it was 

 almost impossible to remain under the tree, and we 

 kept moving. 



Once more Jones crept up on hands and knees. 

 Moze walked the slanting pine like a rope performer. 

 Kitty began to grow restless. This time she showed 

 both anger and impatience, but did not yet appear 

 frightened. She growled low and deep, opened her 

 mouth and hissed, and swung her tufted tail faster 

 and faster. 



&quot; Look out, Jones ! look out ! &quot; yelled Frank warn- 

 ingly. 



Jones, who had reached the trunk of the tree, 

 halted and slipped round it, placing it between him 

 and Kitty. She had advanced on her limb, a few 

 feet above Jones, and threateningly hung over. 



294 



