veral of the scouts were for following her up, and forcing the issue;
but a word from Paul restrained them. He saw that the animal was
furiously angry, and if hard pushed would undoubtedly make things
extremely interesting for any number of fellows; flying into their
midst, so that they could not well use their sticks, and using her sharp
claws to make criss-cross maps across their faces.

Scratches from the claws of all carnivorous animals are dangerous. Blood
poisoning is apt to set in, because of the fact that their claws are
contaminated from the flesh of such birds or small game as have served
them for a previous meal. And just then Paul had nothing along with him
to prevent the possibility of such a dreadful happening taking place.

Seth in particular was exceedingly loth to give over. He looked after
the vanishing wild cat, and shook his head in bitter disappointment.
Only for his pride in obeying all orders that came to him from the
scoutmaster, Seth very likely would have followed the cat, and probably
rued his rashness when he had to call for help a minute or so later.

Meanwhile Paul had hurried to the side of the aeronaut, who raised his
hand in greeting, while a smile broke over his anxious face.

"Welcome, my brave boys!" he exclaimed. "I never dreamed that you could
ever get to me here, when I saw what a horrible sort of bog I had
dropped into. And then, after that savage beast set on me I about gave
myself up as lost. She kept walking around me, and growling for a long
time before she made a jump. Oh! it was a nightmare of a time, I assure
you. I've seen some scrapes before in my ballooning experiences, but
never one the equal of this. I'm mighty glad to meet you all. But I'll
never understand how you found me. After this I'll believe Boy Scouts
can do about anything there is going."

Well, that was praise enough to make every fellow glow with
satisfaction, and feel glad to know he wore the khaki that had won the
sincere respect of this daring voyager of the skies.

"I hope you're not very badly hurt, Mr. Anderson?" Paul ventured, as he
knelt at the side of the other.

"I don't believe it's serious, but all the same I'm pretty much crippled
after all I've gone through with on this ill-fated trip. But I'm willing
to exert myself to the limit in order to get out of this terrible swamp.
You can't make a start any too soon to please me."

Paul drew a long breath. If it had been so difficult for active