THE PANTHER 
43 
“Think you wouldn't get scared? You are not ten 
years old yet." 
“No, sir! Not with you along." 
The man laughed heartily. “Now that's what I 
call a good answer, Buck. You make me feel good, 
then I find it hard to say no. Well, you look strong, 
so if your dad thinks you can ride a horse well enough, 
you may go." 
The man wanted a live mountain lion because he 
had an order for one from a city zoo. The zoo would 
pay him a high price for it, so he said. However, the 
hunt might be very dangerous. Uncle Ely and Father 
knew that, and Buck had to promise to be very care- 
ful. He was given a good horse, and after an early 
breakfast one morning the party rode away. 
The big westerner who was guide for the party 
was named Charlie. With him were five dogs, trained 
especially to follow the trail of a mountain lion. They 
were baying and barking impatiently when the party 
rode out of camp that morning. 
“I should think a big lion could kill a dog," Buck 
ventured. 
“You aren't mistaking this lion for the kind you 
see in the circus, are you?" asked Charlie. 
Uncle Ely answered for him. 
