Part 15 (1/2)

All were silent, and now the faint, far-away sound caain to their ears

It seeain it rang faintly on the night air

”Thosethey are out on the lake looking for us They can't see the tunnel in the dark”

”Mebbe they are half-starved and need help o out and see, fellows”

”That's right,” cried Jerry ”Come on”

He snatched the lantern and dived into the tunnel, followed by his cole were outside

In their confidence and hurry, they co their rifles behind It never occurred to theht have another and totally different origin

So, with empty hands, the lads crawled hastily forward on hands and knees down the long, straight passage that led to the open lake

Suddenly a sharp, blood-curdling cry vibrated on the pent-in air, and that instant a long, tawny beast, with glaring eyeballs, took shape in the gloo rays

CHAPTER XIII

THE LAST OF THE CATAMOUNT

Before the boys, at a distance of barely twelve feet, crouched the huge cataer

Bitterly, in that awfulforth unarrabbed each other, and stared wildly about as though they expected a way of escape to open before their eyes

Jerry o feet in front of his cory beast was about to spring, he uttered a terrific yell, and nearly let the lantern drop fro froood and unexpected purpose The catamount was disturbed by the shrill echoes of a human voice He turned tail instantly, and bolted several yards down the tunnel Then he wheeled around again, and squatted low His fiery eyes glared at his intended victi tail s key

The boys were too badly scared to realize or to follow up their advantage For the moment they ithout wits or presence of mind

”Run!” yelled Jerry; ”run for the cabin!”

Running was out of the question, but the boys did the next best thing

Turning around, they fled up the passage on all fours,to feel the claws of their eneriht showed the way

But ere the lads were half the distance to the storehouse, the hungry beast was bounding after the hideously at every jump

In sheer desperation Jerry wheeled around, and saw the ugly head almost within reach of his arms Terror prompted him to try a last device He lifted the lantern and let it drive with all his ht

It struck the catamount on the foreshoulders, bounced off and rolled in the snow There was a sudden puff, an explosion and a dash of burning oil in all directions Then a series of hisses, and utter darkness