ATTACKED IN FRONT AND REAR. 



" It's a wonder he didn't bite me when I picked up the wood, but he is out of the 

 calculation now" 



Looking straight across the camp-fire, and through the thin smoke, the lad 

 caught a momentary gleam of something which vanished before he could gain more 

 than a glimpse of it. 



But he was shrewd enough to read its meaning aright. The glare was that of 

 two circular objects, seemingly a couple of inches in diameter and separated from 

 each other by about three times of space. 



Such an exhibition could have been made only by the glowing eye-balls of some 

 wild animal that had whisked out of sight before the youth could see anything 

 more. 



THE PANDA. 



" I thought it was about time for something like that, and likely enough there 

 are more of them." 



Sure enough, the thought was hardly formed, when not only the same sight pre- 

 sented itself, but a similar one was observed a short distance to the right. Further- 

 more, several well defined growls struck Dick's ear. 



The second pair of optics that appeared were quite near one of the horses, for 

 whom the youth was more apprehensive than for any one of the company. 



The latter were so near the fire that it was not to be believed that the most 

 daring wild beast would molest them; but the animals of necessity were tethered 

 a little farther off, though it was believed that they were also close enough to share 

 in the protection thus afforded the rest. 



Neither of the ponies had awakened, but they were likely to do so at any 



