244 NEIGHBOURS UNKNOWN 



toward the cabin. At least she had tasted 

 some beginnings of vengeance. 



As she reached the edge of the clearing, 

 and came in sight of the cabin, the man was 

 just entering the door, with the precious 

 bundle in his hands. She saw the door close 

 behind him. At this she whimpered un- 

 easily, and started around to skirt the clear- 

 ing and come upon the cabin from the rear. 



As she went, she caught sight of the two 

 red steers, feeding in the pasture field close 

 by the fence. She crept up, eyeing them, 

 but too sagacious to reveal herself in the 

 open. As luck would have it, one of the 

 steers at this moment came up close to the 

 fence, to scratch his hide on the knots. 

 With a snarl the panther struck at him 

 through the rails, and drew a long ragged 

 gash down his flank. Snorting with pain 

 and terror, the steer turned and raced for 

 home, tail in air ; and his comrade, taking the 

 alarm, bellowed nervously and followed him. 



A few minutes later the man came out of 

 his cabin, followed by his wife. The steers 

 were at the barn door a place they usually 

 avoided at this season. One of them was 

 shivering and bleeding. The man examined 

 the wound, and understood. Turning to the 

 woman, he said 



