ning tree, she ran out on her
branch, and leaped into an adjoining pine. It was a good long jump, and
the weight of the animal bent the limb alarmingly.

Jones backed down, and laboriously began to climb the other tree. As
there were no branches low down, he had to hug the trunk with arms and
legs as a boy climbs. His lasso hampered his progress. When the slow
ascent was accomplished up to the first branch, Kitty leaped back into
her first perch. Strange to say Jones did not grumble; none of his
characteristic impatience manifested itself. I supposed with him all
the exasperating waits, vexatious obstacles, were little things
preliminary to the real work, to which he had now come. He was calm and
deliberate, and slid down the pine, walked back to the leaning tree,
and while resting a moment, shook his lasso at Kitty. This action
fitted him, somehow; it was so compatible with his grim assurance.

To me, and to Frank, also, for that matter, it was all new and
startling, and we were as excited as the dogs. We kept continually
moving about, Frank mounted, and I afoot, to get good views of the
cougar. When she crouched as if to leap, it was almost impossible to
remain under the tree, and we kept moving.

Once more Jones crept up on hands and knees. Moze walked the slanting
pine like a rope performer. Kitty began to grow restless. This time she
showed both anger and impatience, but did not yet appear frightened.
She growled low and deep, opened her mouth and hissed, and swung her
tufted tail faster and faster.

"Look out, Jones! look out!" yelled Frank warningly.

Jones, who had reached the trunk of the tree, halted and slipped round
it, placing it between him and Kitty. She had advanced on her limb, a
few feet above Jones, and threateningly hung over.

Jones backed down a little till she crossed to another branch, then he
resumed his former position.

"Watch below," called he.

Hardly any doubt was there as to how we watched. Frank and I were all
eyes, except very high and throbbing hearts. When Jones thrashed the
lasso at Kitty we both yelled. She ran out on the branch and jumped.
This time she fell short of her point, clutched a dead snag, which
broke, letting her through a bushy branch from where she hung head
downward. For a second she swung free, then reaching toward the tree
caught it with front paws, ran down like a squirrel, and leaped off
when thirty feet from the ground. The action was as rapid as it was