the last of the plainsmen-第34章

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ously　frail…appearing；　dead　snag。　He　made　eleven　casts　of　the　lasso；　all　of　which　bothered　Kitty；　but　did　not　catch　her。　The　twelfth　caught　her　front　paw。　Jones　jerked　so　quickly　and　hard　that　he　almost　lost　his　balance；　and　he　pulled　the　noose　off。　Patiently　he　recoiled　the　lasso。

〃That's　what　I　want。　If　I　can　get　her　front　paw　she's　ours。　My　idea　is　to　pull　her　off　the　limb；　let　her　hang　there；　and　then　lasso　her　hind　legs。〃

Another　cast；　the　unlucky　thirteenth；　settled　the　loop　perfectly　round　her　neck。　She　chewed　on　the　rope　with　her　front　teeth　and　appeared　to　have　difficulty　in　holding　it。

〃Easy！　Easy！　Ooze　thet　rope！　Easy！〃　yelled　the　cowboy。

Cautiously　Jones　took　up　the　slack　and　slowly　tightened　the　nose；　then　with　a　quick　jerk；　fastened　it　close　round　her　neck。

We　heralded　this　achievement　with　yells　of　triumph　that　made　the　forest　ring。

Our　triumph　was　short…lived。　Jones　had　hardly　moved　when　the　cougar　shot　straight　out　into　the　air。　The　lasso　caught　on　a　branch；　hauling　her　up　short；　and　there　she　hung　in　mid…air；　writhing；　struggling　and　giving　utterance　to　sounds　terribly　human。　For　several　seconds　she　swung；　slowly　descending；　in　which　frenzied　time　I；　with　ruling　passion　uppermost；　endeavored　to　snap　a　picture　of　her。

The　unintelligible　commands　Jones　was　yelling　to　Frank　and　me　ceased　suddenly　with　a　sharp　crack　of　breaking　wood。　Then　crash！　Jones　fell　out　of　the　tree。　The　lasso　streaked　up；　ran　over　the　limb；　while　the　cougar　dropped　pell…mell　into　the　bunch　of　waiting；　howling　dogs。

The　next　few　moments　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　distinguish　what　actually　transpired。　A　great　flutter　of　leaves　whirled　round　a　swiftly　changing　ball　of　brown　and　black　and　yellow；　from　which　came　a　fiendish　clamor。

Then　I　saw　Jones　plunge　down　the　ravine　and　bounce　here　and　there　in　mad　efforts　to　catch　the　whipping　lasso。　He　was　roaring　in　a　way　that　made　all　his　former　yells　merely　whispers。　Starting　to　run；　I　tripped　on　a　root；　fell　prone　on　my　face　into　the　ravine；　and　rolled　over　and　over　until　I　brought　up　with　a　bump　against　a　rock。

What　a　tableau　rivited　my　gaze！　It　staggered　me　so　I　did　not　think　of　my　camera。　I　stood　transfixed　not　fifteen　feet　from　the　cougar。　She　sat　on　her　haunches　with　body　well　drawn　back　by　the　taut　lasso　to　which　Jones　held　tightly。　Don　was　standing　up　with　her；　upheld　by　the　hooked　claws　in　his　head。　The　cougar　had　her　paws　outstretched；　her　mouth　open　wide；　showing　long；　cruel；　white　fangs；　she　was　trying　to　pull　the　head　of　the　dog　to　her。　Don　held　back　with　all　his　power；　and　so　did　Jones。　Moze　and　Sounder　were　tussling　round　her　body。　Suddenly　both　ears　of　the　dog　pulled　out；　slit　into　ribbons。　Don　had　never　uttered　a　sound；　and　once　free；　he　made　at　her　again　with　open　jaws。　One　blow　sent　him　reeling　and　stunned。　Then　began　again　that　wrestling　whirl。

〃Beat　off　the　dogs！　Beat　off　the　dogs！〃　roared　Jones。　〃She'll　kill　them！　She'll　kill　them！〃

Frank　and　I　seized　clubs　and　ran　in　upon　the　confused　furry　mass；　forgetful　of　peril　to　ourselves。　In　the　wild　contagion　of　such　a　savage　moment　the　minds　of　men　revert　wholly　to　primitive　instincts。　We　swung　our　clubs　and　yelled；　we　fought　all　over　the　bottom　of　the　ravine；　crashing　through　the　bushes；　over　logs　and　stones。　I　actually　felt　the　soft　fur　of　the　cougar　at　one　fleeting　instant。　The　dogs　had　the　strength　born　of　insane　fighting　spirit。　At　last　we　pulled　them　to　where　Don　lay；　half…stunned；　and　with　an　arm　tight　round　each；　I　held　them　while　Frank　turned　to　help　Jones。

The　disheveled　Jones；　bloody；　grim　as　death；　his　heavy　jaw　locked；　stood　holding　to　the　lasso。　The　cougar；　her　sides　shaking　with　short；　quick　pants；　crouched　low　on　the　ground　with　eyes　of　purple　fire。

〃For　God's　sake；　get　a　half…hitch　on　the　saplin'！〃　called　the　cowboy。

His　quick　grasp　of　the　situation　averted　a　tragedy。　Jones　was　nearly　exhausted；　even　as　he　was　beyond　thinking　for　himself　or　giving　up。　The　cougar　sprang；　a　yellow；　frightful　flash。　Even　as　she　was　in　the　air；　Jones　took　a　quick　step　to　one　side　and　dodged　as　he　threw　his　lasso　round　the　sapling。　She　missed　him；　but　one　alarmingly　outstretched　paw　grazed　his　shoulder。　A　twist　of　Jones's　big　hand　fastened　the　lassoand　Kitty　was　a　prisoner。　While　she　fought；　rolled；　twisted；　bounded；　whirled；　writhed　with　hissing；　snarling　fury；　Jones　sat　mopping　the　sweat　and　blood　from　his　face。

Kitty's　efforts　were　futile；　she　began　to　weaken　from　the　choking。　Jones　took　another　rope；　and　tightening　a　noose　around　her　back　paws；　which　he　lassoed　as　she　rolled　over；　he　stretched　her　out。　She　began　to　contract　her　supple　body；　gave　a　savage；　convulsive　spring；　which　pulled　Jones　flat　on　the　ground；　then　the　terrible　wrestling　started　again。　The　lasso　slipped　over　her　back　paws。　She　leaped　the　whole　length　of　the　other　lasso。　Jones　caught　it　and　fastened　it　more　securely；　but　this　precaution　proved　unnecessary；　for　she　suddenly　sank　down　either　exhausted　or　choked；　and　gasped　with　her　tongue　hanging　out。　Frank　slipped　the　second　noose　over　her　back　paws；　and　Jones　did　likewise　with　a　third　lasso　over　her　right　front　paw。　These　lassoes　Jones　tied　to　different　saplings。

〃Now　you　are　a　good　Kitty；〃　said　Jones；　kneeling　by　her。　He　took　a　pair　of　clippers　from　his　hip　pocket；　and　grasping　a　paw　in　his　powerful　fist　he　calmly　clipped　the　points　of　the　dangerous　claws。　This　done；　he　called　to　me　to　get　the　collar　and　chain　that　were　tied　to　his　saddle。　I　procured　them　and　hurried　back。　Then　the　old　buffalo　hunter　loosened　the　lasso　which　was　round　her　neck；　and　as　soon　as　she　could　move　her　head；　he　teased　her　to　bite　a　club。　She　broke　two　good　sticks　with　her　sharp　teeth；　but　the　third；　being　solid；　did　not　break。　While　she　was　chewing　it　Jones　forced　her　head　back　and　placed　his　heavy　knee　on　the　club。　In　a　twinkling　he　had　strapped　the　collar　round　her　neck。　The　chain　he　made　fast　to　the　sapling。　After　removing　the　club　from　her　mouth　he　placed　his　knee　on　her　neck；　and　while　her　head　was　in　this　helpless　position　he　dexterously　slipped　a　loop　of　thick　copper　wire　over　her　nose；　pushed　it　back　and　twisted　it　tight　Following　this；　all　done　with　speed　and　precision；　he　took　from　his　pocket　a　piece　of　steel　rod；　perhaps　one…quarter　of　an　inch　thick；　and　five　inches　long。　He　pushed　this　between　Kitty's　jaws；　just　back　of　her　great　white　fangs；　and　in　front　of　the　copper　wire。　She　had　been　shorn　of　her　sharp　weapons；　she　was　muzzled；　bound；　helpless；　an　object　to　pity。

Lastly　Jones　removed　the　three　lassoes。　Kitty　slowly　gathered　her　lissom　body　in　a　ball　and　lay　panting；　with　the　same　brave　wildfire　in　her　eyes。　Jones　stroked　her　black…tipped　ears　and　ran　his　hand　down　her　glossy　fur。　All　the　time　he　had　kept　up　a　low　monotone；　talking　to　her　in　the　strange　language　he　used　toward　animals。　Then　he　rose　to　his　feet。

〃We'll　go　back　to　camp　now；　and　get　a　pack；　saddle　and　horse；〃　he　said。　〃She'll　be　safe　here。　We'll　rope　her　again；　tie　her　up；　throw　her　over　a　pack…saddle；　and　take　her　to　camp。〃

To　my　utter　bewilderment　the　hounds　suddenly　commenced　fighting　among　themselves。　Of　all　the　vicious　bloody　dog…fights　I　ever　saw　that　was　the　worst。　I　began　to　belabor　them　with　a　club；　and　Frank　sprang　to　my　assistance。　Beating　had　no　apparent　effect。　We　broke　a　dozen　sticks；　and　then　Frank　grappled　with　Moze　and　I　with　Sounder。　Don　kept　on　fighting　either　one　till　Jones　secured　him。　Then　we　all　took　a　rest；　panting　and　weary。

〃What's　it　mean？〃　I　ejaculated；　appealing　to　Jones。

〃Jealous；　that's　all。　Jealous　over　the　lion。〃

We　all　remained　seated；　men　and　hounds；　a　sweaty；　dirty；　bloody；　ragged　group。　I　discovered　I　was　sorry　for　Kitty。　I　forgot　all　the　carcasses　of　deer　and　horses；　the　brutality　of　this　species　of　cat；　and　even　forgot　the　grim；　snarling　yellow　devil　that　had　leaped　at　me。　Kitty　was　beautiful　and　helpless。　How　brave　she　was；　too！　No　sign　of　fear　shone　in　her　wonderful　eyes；　only　hate；　defiance；　watchfulness。

On　the　ride　back　to　camp　Jones　expressed　himself　thus：　〃How　happy　I　am　that　I　can　keep　this　lion　and　the　others　we　are　going　to　capture；　for　my　own。　When　I　was　in　the　Yellowstone　Park　I　did　not　get　to　keep　one　of　the　many　I　captured。　The　military　officials　took　them　from　me。〃

When　we　reached　camp　Lawson　was　absent；　but　fortunately　Old　Baldy　browsed　near　at　hand；　and　was　easily　caught。　Frank　said　he　would　rather　take　Old　Baldy　for　the　cougar　than　any　other　horse　we　had。　Leaving　me　in　camp；　he　and　Jones　rode　off　to　fetch　Kitty。

About　five　o'clock　they　came　trotting　up　through　the　forest　with　Jim；　who　had　fallen　in　with　them　on　the　way。　Old　Baldy　had　remained　true　to　his　famenothing；　not　even　a　cougar　bothered　him。　Kitty；　evidently　no　worse　for　her　experience；　was　chained　to　a　pine　tree　about　fifty　feet　from　the　campfire。

Wallace　came　riding　wearily　in；　and　when　he　saw　the　captive；　he　greeted　us　with　an　exultant　yell。　He　got　there　just　in　time　to　see　the　first　special　features　of　Kitty's　captivity。　The　hounds　surrounded　her；　and　could　not　be　called　off。　We　had　to　beat　them。　Whereupon　the　six　jealous　canines　fell　to　fighting　among　themselves；　and　fought　so　savagely　as　to　be　deaf　to　our　cries　and　insensible　to　blows。　They　had　to　be　torn　apart　and　chained。

About　six　o'clock　Lawson　loped　in　with　the　horses。　Of　course　he　did　not　know　we　had　a　cougar；　and　no　one　seemed　interested　enough　to　inform　him。　Perhaps　only　Frank　and　I　thought　of　it；　but　I　saw　a　merry　snap　in　Frank's　eyes；　and　kept　silent。　Kitty　had　hidden　behind　the　pine　tree。　Lawson；　astride　Jones'　pack　horse；　a　crochety　animal；　reined　in　just　abreast　of　the　tree；　and　leisurely　threw　his　leg　over　the　saddle。　Kitty　leaped　out　to　the　extent　of　her　chain；　and　fairly　exploded　in　a　frightful　cat…spit。

Lawson　had　stated　some　time　before　that　he　was　afraid　of　cougars；　which　was　a　weakness　he　need　not　have　divulged　in　view　of　what　happened。　The　horse　plunged；　throwing　him　ten　feet；　and　snorting　in　terror；　stampeded　with　the　rest　of　the　bunch　and　disappeared　among　the　pines。

〃Why　the　hell　didn't　you　tell　a　feller？〃　reproachfully　growled　the　Arizonian。　Frank　and　Jim　held　each　other　upright；　and　the　rest　of　us　gave　way　to　as　hearty　if　not　as　violent　mirth。

We　had　a　gay　supper；　during　which　Kitty　sat　her　pine　and　watched　our　every　movement。

〃We'll　rest　up　for　a　day　or　two；〃　said　Jones　〃Things　have　commenced　to　come　our　way。　If　I'm　not　mistaken　we'll　bring　an　old　Tom　alive　into　camp。　But　it　would　never　do　for　us　to　get　a　big　Tom　in　the　fix　we　had　Kitty　to…day。　You　see；　I　wanted　to　lasso　her　front　paw；　pull　her　off　the　limb；　tie　my　end　of　the　lasso　to　the　tree；　and　while　she　hung　I'd　go　down　and　rope　her　hind　paws。　It　all　went　wrong　to…day；　and　was　as　tough　a　job　as　I　ever　handled。〃

Not　until　late　next　morning　did　Lawson　corral　all　the　horses。　That　day　we　lounged　in　camp　mending　broken　bridles；　saddles；　stirrups；　lassoes；　boots；　trousers；　leggins；　shirts　and　even　broken　skins。

During　this　time　I　found　Kitty　a　most　interesting　study。　She　reminded　me　of　an　enormous　yellow　kitten。　She　did　not　appear　wild　or　untamed　until　approached。　Then　she　slowly　sank　down；　laid　back　her　ears；　opened　her　mouth　and　hissed　and　spat；　at　the　same　time　throwing　both　paws　out　viciously。　Kitty　may　have　rested；　but　did　not　sleep。