In Cowboy Land. 447 



While thus waiting, his monstrous assailant, which must 

 have been lurking nearby in the woods, waiting for a 

 chance to catch one of the adventurers unprepared, came 

 silently up from behind, walking with long, noiseless steps, 

 and seemingly still on two legs. Evidently unheard, it 

 reached the man, and broke his neck by wrenching his 

 head back with its forepaws, while it buried its teeth in 

 his throat. It had not eaten the body, but apparently 

 had romped and gambolled round it in uncouth, ferocious 

 glee, occasionally rolling over and over it ; and had then 

 fled back into the soundless depths of the woods. 



Bauman, utterly unnerved, and believing that the 

 creature with which he had to deal was something either 

 half human or half devil, some great goblin-beast, aban- 

 doned everything but his rifle and struck off at speed down 

 the pass, not halting until he reached the beaver meadows 

 where the hobbled ponies were still grazing. Mounting, 

 he rode onwards through the night, until far beyond the 

 reach of pursuit. 



