Part 3 (1/2)

”But won't the catamount jump at us?” asked Brick

”Not while we have the lantern,” assured Jerry ”All wild animals are afraid of fire”

The boys ventured out of the lean-to They timidly advanced to the fireplace, which was in the center of the glade

”Where's the wood you brought at bedtiot all about it,” admitted Hamp ”I was too sleepy to think

I' sorry won't help us now,” said Jerry, grimly ”There's not even a stick”

There was silence for aless than to be pounced upon by the hungry beast

”I believe the catamount has sneaked off,” declared Haet soo with you,” replied Jerry ”There's a windfall under the roots of that dead pine tree It's only half-a-dozen yards frouns and the lantern They crossed the glade, and vanished in the ti by the fireplace He was afraid to go after his coun on a stone, and stooped over the dying e vainly to fan the noise, and was horrified to see a great, dusky anie of the timber, directly opposite the spot where the boys had disappeared

The beast's arrival was so unexpected that Brick lost his wits With a yell he turned and dashed across the glade, and rolled into a copse of bushes

There he lay, shouting for help at the top of his voice, and expecting to be immediately torn to pieces

lusty cries quickly answered hileao by, and then a rifle cracked sharply

The next thing he knew Jerry and Ha him to his feet

”Where's the catamount?” he panted ”Did you kill it?”

”Missed,” replied Jerry ”I only had a snap shot The creature bolted into the forest when it saw the lantern We didn't get here any too soon”

”I thought I was a goner,” declared Brick

His face was pale, and he trereat load of wood on his back, and the fire was soon blazing n for tencry fro a little longer the boys went back to their warhs

They fell asleep very quickly, and it was broad daylight when they got awake The sun was behind ray clouds, and the air was bitterly cold The snow crunched sharply under foot, and the lake was frozen from shore to shore

The presence of the cata-place

After breakfasting on bacon and fried potatoes, they packed the sleds and started

They traveled northward over the ice, following all the bays and indentations of the lake's crooked shore At noon they stopped for lunch The cold was so to have a hard winter,” said Jerry when they were on the ht snowshoes, and plenty of extra blankets along”