The Last of the Plainsmen 



ing branch. Jones conceived the idea of raising the 

 loop of his lasso on a long pole, but as no pole of 

 sufficient length could be found, he tried from the 

 back of his horse. The bay walked forward well 

 enough; when, however, he got under the beast and 

 heard her growl, he reared and almost threw Jones. 

 Frank s horse could not be persuaded to go near the 

 tree. Satan evinced no fear of the cougar, and with 

 out flinching carried Jones directly beneath the limb, 

 and stood with ears back and forelegs stiff. 



&quot; Look at that! look at that! &quot; cried Jones, as the 

 wary cougar pawed the loop aside. Three successive 

 times did Jones have the lasso just ready to drop over 

 her neck, when she flashed a yellow paw and knocked 

 the noose awry. Then she leaped far out over the 

 waiting dogs, struck the ground with a light, sharp 

 thud, and began to run with the speed of a deer. 

 Frank s cowboy training now stood us in good stead. 

 He was off like a shot and turned the cougar from 

 the direction of the canon. Jones lost not a moment 

 in pursuit, and I, left with Jones s badly frightened 

 bay, got going in time to see the race, but not to 

 assist. For several hundred yards Kitty made the 

 hounds appear slow. Don, being swiftest, gained 

 on her steadily toward the close of the dash, and 

 presently was running under her upraised tail. On 

 the next jump he nipped her. She turned and sent 



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