CHAPTER XIV 



THE MOUNTAIN LION 



R VISING my eyes for an instant from 

 the antics of a woodchuck, they caught 

 a movement of the tall grass caused by 

 a crawling animal. This presently showed it- 

 self to be a mountain lion. He was slipping 

 up on a mare and colt on the opposite edge of the 

 meadow. The easy air that was blowing across 

 my face from horse to lion had not carried a 

 warning of my presence to either of them. 



I was in Big Elk Park, seated on a rock pile, 

 and was nearly concealed by drooping tree 

 limbs. Behind me rose the forested Twin 

 Peaks, and before me a ragged-edged mountain 

 meadow lay in the forest; and across this 

 meadow the lion crawled. 



The colt kicked up its heels as it ran merry 

 circles round its mother. This beautiful bay 

 mare, like her colt, was born in unfenced scenes 

 and had never felt the hand of man. She had 

 marked capability and the keenness exacted 

 by wilderness environment. 



I watched the bending grass as the lion crept 

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