286 Trails to Woods and Waters 



two gleaming eyes, the fierceness of which 

 seemed to freeze the blood in my veins. 



I also imagined that I could see extended 

 claws, and the mouth of the creature wide 

 open ready to take a piece out of the back of 

 my neck. 



Just as the animal struck the ground Ben's 

 rifle (old Kentucky) cracked, and an enor- 

 mous bay lynx stretched out dead almost at 

 our very feet. 



Then when it was all over, I turned white 

 as a sheet, and my knees shook so that I could 

 hardly stand. 



" That was a pretty close call, Harry," 

 cried Ben. " I didn't suppose that my lesson 

 on instant obedience would be demonstrated 

 so soon, but you can't ever tell in the woods. 

 We must always be ready." 



We tied the great cat to a pole and carried 

 it home between us, and were well satisfied 

 with that night's raccoon hunt. 



But all the way home I kept looking over 

 my shoulder, half expecting to see another 

 lynx bearing down upon me from the upper 

 air. 



