Kitty 



all his former yells merely whispers. Starting to 

 run, I tripped on a root, fell prone on my face into 

 the ravine, and rolled over and over until I brought 

 up with a bump against a rock. 



What a tableau riveted my gaze! It staggered 

 me so I did not think of my camera. I stood trans 

 fixed not fifteen feet from the cougar. She sat on 

 her haunches with body well drawn back by the 

 taut lasso to which Jones held tightly. Don was 

 standing up with her, upheld by the hooked claws in 

 his head. The cougar had her paws outstretched; 

 her mouth open wide, showing long, cruel, white 

 fangs; she was trying to pull the head of the dog to 

 her. Don held back with all his power, and so did 

 Jones. Moze and Sounder were tussling round her 

 body. Suddenly both ears of the dog pulled out, 

 slit into ribbons. Don had never uttered a sound, 

 and once free, he made at her again with open jaws. 

 One blow sent him reeling and stunned. Then began 

 again that wrestling whirl. 



&quot; Beat off the dogs! Beat off the dogs! &quot; roared 

 Jones. &quot;She ll kill them! She ll kill them !&quot; 



Frank and I seized clubs and ran in upon the con 

 fused furry mass, forgetful of peril to ourselves. In 

 the wild contagion of such a savage moment the 

 minds of men revert wholly to primitive instincts. 

 We swung our clubs and yelled; we fought all over 



301 



