THE LY^^X. 435 



entire charge entered the head of the Lynx, and it tumbled 

 to the ground, stone-dead. Prince stood there with danc- 

 ing eyes, quivering limbs, and open jaws. He sprung upon 

 the limp carcass and shook it to his heart's content. Then 

 his mistress carried her trophy home in triumph. 



The Lynx measured three feet and a half in length from 

 tii3 to tip, weighed thirty -eight pounds, and was a beauti- 

 ful specimen. Such a powerful animal, if it were to turn 

 its full strength and its natural weapons against the most 

 powerful man, could make short work of him, if unarmed. 

 Though usually considered harmless, the Lynx is a most 

 powerful brute. No dog can match him. He can tear the 

 strongest and fiercest dog into shreds in a few seconds, if 

 he choose to fight. Nor is he as cowardly as the Cougar; 

 many old hunters considering him more to be feared than 

 the latter. 



Two young lads, Ernest Holmes and Tom Berry, while 

 passing through a neighbor's ranch with their sheep-dog, 

 Rover, had their attention drawn to the dog's antics. 

 Rover, after circling through the timber some moments, at 

 last settled down to trail some animal which had passed 

 some time before. He soon opened up, and barking wildly, 

 disappeared along the banks of a creek. Tlie boys followed, 

 and the barking at last seeming to locate in a bunch of vine 

 maples. They rushed in, and saw a large animal perched 

 about five feet from the ground, on a swaying sapling 

 within their reach. 



They had no weapons other than their penknives, and 

 so, knowing no danger, attacked the Lynx — for such it 

 proved to be — with these. They could just reach the brute 

 by standing on their tiptoes. First one, then the other 

 boy, would reach up and stab the Lynx in the back and 

 limbs, bringing the blood in many streams. So heartily 

 did they ply their knives, that the beast soon loosened its 

 grip on the stunted maple and fell to the ground, half-dead 

 from loss of blood. The dog seized him by the throat, and 

 soon choked the life out of him. His coat was literally cut 



