SPORTING TERMS AND BIG CATS 349 



distance in advance of McLeod when the latter 

 heard him shouting for help. Arriving in sight of 

 Smith, McLeod was astonished to see him 



FACING A BIG MOUNTAIN LION. 



The cat crouched in the trail about fifteen feet 

 from the fisherman. The great tail of the beast 

 was slowly swishing from side to side as he 

 watched with interest, but no alarm, the fisherman 

 waving his switch-like rod; a small dog with its 

 tail between its legs was barking dire threats at the 

 lion, but keeping a safe distance from the latter's 

 jaws and claws, when McLeod sent a bullet from 

 his thirty-forty and 



KILLED THE GREAT CAT. 



It weighed 250 pounds and was a monster as 

 may be seen from the accompanying photograph 

 given to me by the prospector himself when I was 

 up in his country. Mr. McLeod is a big man, 

 fully six feet or more in height. 



It is not probable that the big cat had any 

 intention of attacking Smith, but an unarmed 

 man does not enjoy facing such a beast and is al- 

 ways glad to have it shot. The little dog may have 

 aroused the lion, and as these beasts 



HAVE NO LOVE FOR DOGS 



it was probably facing the barking canine, so as 

 not to be attacked in the rear. 



