236 NEIGHBOURS UNKNOWN 



belt a couple of holes, and stooped to stretch 

 himself on the moss for a quick rest. As he 

 did so, he cast a prudent eye along his back 

 trail. Instantly he stiffened, snatched up 

 his gun again, sank on one knee, and insinuated 

 the muzzle carefully between the screening 

 branches. A huge panther had just shown 

 himself, rising into view for an instant, and 

 at once sinking back into the leafage. 



At this disappearance the man grew uneasy. 

 Was the beast still trailing him, belly to 

 earth, through the low undergrowth ? Or 

 had it swerved aside to try and get ahead 

 of him, to ambuscade him by and by from 

 some rock or low-hung branch. Or, on the 

 other hand, had it given up the pursuit rather 

 than face the perils of the open ? The man 

 was annoyed at the uncertainty. Raising 

 himself to his full height in order to com- 

 mand a better view of the trail, but at the 

 same time keeping well hidden, he stood 

 hesitating, doubtful whether to hurry on as 

 fast as possible, or to wait a while in this 

 safe ambush in the hope of getting a shot 



at his pursuer. 



* * * * * 



Back to the cleft in Red Rock, beneath 

 the down-swung pine, came the female 

 panther. She had been lucky. She had 



