But
he recovered, thanks to the help you gave him, and made the top all
right. So-long, Bob."
"I notice you're taking your gun along," remarked the one who was to
stay.
"Well, when you're in the mountains it's just as well to be prepared
all the time. You never can tell when you'll run slap into something.
It might be a big grizzly like the one we met; then perhaps a hungry
panther might take a notion to tackle you. I knew a cowman who had
that happen to him. Yes, and perhaps you heard him tell the story."
"You must mean Ike Lasker," Bob replied, quickly. "Yes, I remember how
he said he was lying down, waiting for some feeding deer off to
windward to work closer, when, all of a sudden, something struck him on
the back, and nearly knocked the wind out of him for keeps. He managed
to get his knife out, and they had it there, good and hard."
"Ike said he nearly cashed in his checks that time," Frank added.
"Some of his mates found him, after they discovered his horse feeding
near by. The panther was dead as a stone, and Ike was clawed and bit
till he looked like a map of the delta of the Mississippi--anyhow,
that's the way he told it. Keep your shooter handy, too, Bob."
"I will that," returned the Kentucky boy, impressed by his chum's
earnestness.
After a little while Frank came back again. His manner told that he
was quite satisfied with what he had done.
"A sharp-eyed trailer might find where we left the canyon," he
admitted; "but I don't believe any ordinary fellow would notice the
marks.
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