ace or drove them in disgust
from their wonted haunts, he realized that his range was ruined. The
men and the mills were the conquerors, and he must let himself be
driven from his well-beloved Guimic slopes. But first he would have
revenge. His caution somewhat undermined by his rage, he crept much
nearer to the main camp than he had hitherto dared to go, and hid
himself in a low tree to see what opportunity fate might fling to
him.

Belonging to the camp was a brindle dog, a sturdy and noisy mongrel
whose barking was particularly obnoxious to the wildcat. Of a surly
yet restless temper, the mongrel was in reality by no means popular in
the camp, and would not have been tolerated there but for the fact
that he belonged to the Boss. In the wildcat's eyes, however, as in
the eyes of all the wild kindreds, he seemed a treasured possession of
the menkind, and an especially objectionable expression of all their
most objectionable characteristics. Moreover, being four-footed and
furred, he was plainly more kin to the wild creatures than to man--and
therefore, to the wild creature, obviously a traitor and a renegade.
There was not one of them but would have taken more satisfaction in
avenging its wrongs upon the loud-mouthed mongrel than upon one of the
mongrel's masters; not one but would have counted that the sweetest
and completest form of vengeance.

It is not surprising, therefore, that the big cat quivered with eager
hate when he saw the dog come lazily out of the cook-house and wander
toward the spring--which lay just beyond the thick tree! His eyes
blazed green, his fur rose slightly, and he set his claws into the
bark to gain firm foothold.

Confident and secure, the dog approached the tree. On the way he
jumped savagely at a chipmunk, which dodged in time and whisked into
its hole. For a minute or two the dog pawed and scratched at the hole,
trying to dig the little fugitive out. Then he gave up the vain task,
and moved on toward the spring.

The wildcat gave one quick glance on every side. There was not a man
in sight. The cook was in the cook-house, rattling tins. Then the dog
came beneath the tree--and stopped to sniff at the wildcat's track.

There was a sharp scratch in the tree above--and in the next instant a
brown furry shape dropped upon him noiselessly, bearing him to the
ground. This thing was a mass of teeth and claws and terrific muscles.
It gave one sharp screech as the dog's yelping howl arose, t