u can,
Lub."

They saw the fat boy begin to cautiously extend one foot backwards. When
there came a warning snarl he instantly stiffened out as though he had
been turned into stone.

"Try it some more," Phil told him, "go carefully, but never mind the
growls. When she sees you're retreating she'll be satisfied, let's
hope."

So Lub did as he was told, for his nature was rather docile. It could be
seen that he was holding himself in readiness to flatten out on his
stomach in case of hostile demonstrations on the part of the wildcat. No
doubt he expected that he could in this way manage to protect his face
from her claws; while the pack on his back would serve him in good stead
there.

Phil, however, had rightly gauged the intention of the mother beast.
She was only standing up for her whelps, and so long as they were not
placed in peril she did not mean to attack that crowd of two-legged
enemies.

The further Lub got away from the danger zone the more rapidly he began
to move his plump legs. Presently he felt Ethan lay hold of his foot, at
which he gave a gasping cry, under the impression that it must be the
mate of the enraged bobcat which had attacked him from the rear.

"It's all right, Lub," Ethan hastened to say, reassuringly, for he had
not intended to frighten the other; "you're among friends now; and see
there how the old cat slinks away, still growling and looking daggers at
us with those yellow eyes of hers. Wow! she would have given us a warm
time of it, I'm telling you!"

"Did you get her photo, Phil?" demanded X-Ray; "because I heard the
click, after you'd swung your little camera around."

"Yes, when I saw that she didn't mean to tackle us," replied the other,
"I remembered that I ought to have something to show for Lub's
adventure. Guess you'll be glad to have a print of your friend, Lub;
it'll be a nice thing to look at on a hot summer day; because you'll
always have a chill chase up and down your spinal column, when you
think what would have happened if you'd come to close quarters with that
cat."

"And talk about the map of Ireland on your face," added Ethan; "more'n
likely you'd call it one of Europe, with every river plainly marked."

Lub was mopping his face with his red bandanna. All the color had fled,
leaving him as white as a ghost; but under the manipulation of his
handkerchief that was being speedily rectified.

"I think I'll drop back a bit, and let some of the rest of you fello