opening, hit the door which
threw it still wider and he escaped. The keeper had enough presence of
mind to slam the door shut as the mate awoke from a nap and also made
for the door. When she found herself shut in and her mate gone, she
made such a row she has upset all the animals. Anything like this
always excites the animals and makes them roar and slash around in
their cages trying to break through to freedom too.

"And now I want to tell you to be most watchful. For panthers are fond
of goats and sheep--they like them best of all meats. They may smell
goats and come over here to eat a kid or two," and Stubby looked
straight at the kids, his face very sober, trying to frighten them so
they would keep close to their mother and not run away again.

By this time men were running all over the Park with loaded pistols
and guns in their hands, while others carried pitchforks and ropes to
try to lasso the panther for they really wished to capture him alive
if they could.

Mothers with children hurried out of the Park, and soon few people
could be seen except the Park guards and the men who were hunting the
loose beast. It was about four o'clock when the escape was made and at
dusk they had not found him yet. The animals quieted down when they
were given their supper, forgetting that one of their number had
gained the much-desired freedom. All but the panther's mate. She
refused to be comforted, but snarled and showed her teeth when any one
went near her cage.

[Illustration]

It was just that hour between twilight and darkness when shapes can
still be distinguished moving about that Billy chanced to look up in
the big tree that stood near the fence of the goat yard. He thought he
saw two yellow balls of fire about the size of big marbles shining up
among the leaves in the tree. As he looked, they seemed to move slowly
toward him. Then looking more closely, he made out the outline of a
big panther crouching on the limb ready to spring down on the
unsuspecting Angoras peacefully sleeping directly under the limb the
beast was on.

Billy gave the alarm, but too late. The panther had made a spring and
landed on the back of a young Angora goat and was now devouring it
greedily, while all the rest of the goats ran over to where Billy and
his family stood in an opposite corner of the yard.

[Illustration]

"All of you big goats with horns get ready to fight," commanded Billy,
"for the minute that panther has devoured th