That's my panther, I told you!" said Bluff, jumping to his feet, and
still holding on to his gun.

He was as white as a ghost, but a fire shone in his eyes telling of the
spirit that had finally been aroused there. Jerry would soon have to
look to his laurels now.

Mr. Mabie laughed as he patted Bluff on the back.

"I reckon it is, youngster; but you took big chances that time. I'd
advise you to slow up a bit in the future, when shooting in the dark.
That impetuous nature will sure get you into more than one scrape,
otherwise," he said soberly.

Bluff hung his head. He knew now that he had been too hasty, when there
were so many older campaigners than himself around; but the loss of that
elk had rankled in his heart, so that he could not resist the sudden
temptation to redeem his reputation.

Jerry, for once, had nothing to say, at least to the successful one. He
bent over the dead panther, and examined it with curiosity. Will was
loudly lamenting the fact that once again he had found himself left in
the lurch.

"You fellows move too fast," he declared. "Now, if Bluff hadn't put in
his oar, I was just about ready to shoot off a flashlight picture. Just
think what it would mean to see Reddy, here, banging that big cat over
the head with his torch! Oh! it's just too mean for any use! Everything
goes wrong just when I'm going to squeeze my bulb, and get the best
picture there ever was! Even a rotten old log has to go and break off
short--"

"Hey, Will! Let up on that whining, won't you?" cried Jerry, just then,
fearful lest his secret was about to come out.

Frank looked suspiciously at both his chums. Perhaps he may have
entertained a dim thought that there was something between them that
they did not want known; but other things soon put this out of his mind
for the time being.

"We must keep an eye out the rest of the time we're here," said Billy,
after the company had settled down again around the fire.

"Why?" asked Bluff, looking up from admiring the sleek fur of his prize.

"The brutes often hunt in couples, you know. This was the mother, just
as I had an ijee, and she's got half-grown cubs around somewhere. If the
mate's near by he may give us a call sooner or later."

Bluff's hand had stolen out toward his gun at these words.

"Here! No more of that, my lad!" said Mr. Mabie. "You've had your fling,
and come out of it mighty lucky. Don't try it again while I'm around,
please. If any more uninvited v