Suddenly Frank brought down his torch upon the beast with all the force
he was capable of using. There was a snarl and the animal jumped
aside, evidently not fancying the closeness of the stick that burned.
The lad again raised his torch, but evidently the panther had already
endured quite enough of the conflict. It was bad enough fighting two
human beings at a time; but when one of them persisted in belaboring
him with such a hot weapon he drew the line.
And so with a parting snarl, that was full of defiance and venom, the
panther sprang back out of sight, departing just as silently as he had
come.
"That's just like the luck," grumbled Bob.
"What's the matter now?" asked Frank, looking sharply to make sure that
the treacherous beast did not sneak back in order to attack them from
another quarter.
"Why, I'd just got my gun slewed around, and was ready to fire when he
skipped out. I'd liked to have bagged him, I reckon. A grizzly and a
panther, all on one trip, would be worth talking about."
"Oh! I don't know that you'd have been so very proud over it,"
observed Frank.
Bob looked at him as he said this.
"Now, you've got some reason for making such a remark as that," he
observed.
"Perhaps I have," answered his chum, nodding wisely.
"Then out with it, Frank, and don't keep me wondering. Besides, I
reckon that we'll have another bellow from the old mountain at any time
now."
"I guess you didn't notice something queer about that animal, then,
Bob?"
"About the panther, you mean?" came the reply.
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