THE WILD CAT OF MUSKOKA 209 



ravine, the man in front heard his partner utter 

 a sudden loud call for help. Turning, he was 

 dumbfounded to see the man lying on his face 

 in the snow, with a cougar which had evidently 

 just knocked him down standing over him, 

 grasping the deer-meat, while another cougar 

 was galloping up to assist. Swinging his rifle 

 round he shot the first one in the brain, and it 

 dropped motionless, whereat the second halted, 

 wheeled, and bounded into the woods. His 

 companion was not in the least hurt or even 

 frightened, though greatly amazed. The cougars 

 were not full grown, but young of the year. 



" Now in this case," says Mr. Roosevelt, <c I 

 do not believe the beasts had any real intention 

 of attacking the men. They were young animals, 

 bold, stupid, and very hungry. The smell of 

 the raw meat excited them beyond control, and 

 they probably could not make out clearly what 

 the men were as they walked bent under their 

 burdens, with the deerskins on their backs. 

 Evidently the cougars were only trying to get 

 at the venison." 



