olves suddenly ceased, and these creatures were no longer to be
heard. But there were other sounds audible--the stamping and snorting
of the terrified horses. The young hunters, up to this time, had not
thought of the safety of these poor animals. It was now too late to
relieve them--the cougar was within a hundred yards of the camp!

All three, along with Marengo, placed themselves within the _circle of
fire_. Fortunately, there was no wind--not a breath--and the smoke rose
vertically upward, leaving them a breathing space within. There they
stood, guns in hand. Around them the fires blazed and crackled; but
above the snapping of the knots, and the hiss of the spurting piping
tree gas, could be heard the wild cry of the cougar! It now became
evident on what side the animal was; for, as the young hunters peered
through the smoke and blaze, they could distinguish the yellow cat-like
body, moving to and fro under the hanging meat. The rounded head, the
long hollow back, the smooth tawny skin, were not to be mistaken. As if
to add to their terrible situation, the boys now saw that _not one, but
a pair_, of these fearful creatures were upon the ground, moving
backward and forward, passing each other, and looking eagerly up at the
meat where it hung.

It now occurred to the hunters what an oversight they had made, in not
cutting down the meat. Had they done so, the cougars would no doubt
have devoured it, and moved off after satisfying their hunger. Alas! it
was too late for such a thought.

For several minutes the animals continued to walk backward and forward,
eagerly eyeing the tempting object above them. Several times they
sprang up, as if to seize it; but their efforts fell far short, and they
desisted. One of them now ran up the tree, to which the lasso was
fastened. His claws could be heard rattling upon the bark as he sprang
upward. He first climbed to the branch over which the bear-meat hung.
This he shook with violence, looking downward, to see if the suspended
object would fall. Disappointed, he left this after a time, and came
down to the other branch, where the lasso was tied in a knot. Here he
again seized the rope in his claws, and shook it with violence, but with
a like result. Although he had the advantage of the wolves in being
able to climb the tree, he had not _their_ cunning, else he would soon
have let the meat down, by cutting the rope with his teeth. This idea,
however, belonged t