44 
WILD AMERICANS 
“Yes, I imagine he is, Charlie. I don't know that 
we have ever told the children about the American 
lion . 11 
“These lions, Buck, are not like the lions of Africa, 
such as you see at the circus. Ours are called pan' 
thers, pumas, or cougars, all names for the same anh 
mal. Ours are not as large as the African lions. Ours 
do not have the great shaggy mane, and are not as 
fierce as the others, thank goodness! That's why we 
can trail them with dogs. A panther might kill one 
dog, or even two or three, all right; but he is afraid 
of dogs and will usually run up a tree when dogs 
follow his trail. Isn't that right, Charlie?" 
“Right. A panther doesn't know his own strength. 
Also he is something of a coward, unless he is cor 
nered. Then he will put up a pretty good fight. A 
big panther will weigh two hundred pounds or more, 
three times what the biggest dog will weigh. He has 
sharp teeth and claws. We'll see." 
Buck was beaming with interest at all this talk. He 
was going to see not a 2100 lion, but a real ferocious 
wild American lion, just the same! Wouldn't he 
have something to tell his friends at home! 
“Do they kill many people, Mr. Charlie?" the boy 
asked. 
