The Theft 



FROM their cave in the cleft of Red 

 Rock, where the half-uprooted pine- 

 trees swung out across the ravine, the two 

 panthers came padding noiselessly down the 

 steep trail. In the abrupt descent their 

 massive shoulders and haunches worked con- 

 spicuously under the tawny and supple 

 hide, in a loose-jointed way that belied their 

 enormous strength. Where the trail came 

 out upon a patch of grassy level, starred with 

 blossoms, beside the tumbling mountain 

 stream, they parted company the female 

 turning off across the tangled and rocky 

 slopes, while the male went on down to hunt 

 in the heavy timber of the valley-bottom. 

 Game was scarce that spring, and the hunt 

 kept them both busy. They had no mis- 

 givings about leaving their two blind sprawl- 

 ing cubs to doze on their bed of dry grass 

 in the dark inner corner of the cave. They 



