228 Trails to Woods and Waters 



came upon the calf in hiding when its mother 

 was feeding and pounced upon it, without 

 considering that there was a mother to reckon 

 with. There is where it was lying. Here 

 are the hoof prints where the poor calf 

 plunged about, probably with the cat upon 

 its back tearing at its throat. I presume 

 about that time it did some tall bleating and 

 Specky appeared on the scene. 



" Then Mrs. Bobcat went up this tree. I 

 have already shown you the clawprints. The 

 cat had a rather close call, too, for here is a 

 scar where the heifer's horn has ripped the 

 bark off. 



" This attack probably infuriated the cat 

 and she revenged herself by dropping on the 

 heifer's back. That is how she came to be so 

 clawed. Then the heifer lost her head and 

 lit out. The bobcat must have hopped off 

 when she had ridden a few rods, and come 

 back to finish the calf. The heifer must have 

 run clear down to the bars." 



I opened both my eyes and mouth wide 

 with astonishment as Ben unfolded the story 



