"Oh, what a fool I am!" the boy told himself, and tried vainly to steady his nerves. He hit the front tent pole with his foot, making considerable noise. "What's the matter?" cried Dave, waking and leaping to his feet. "What are you doing, Phil?" "Noth--nothing," stammered the shipowner's son. "I--I--there is something in the tree!" And then, raising his gun, Phil banged away blindly. The echo of the shot was followed by an unearthly scream from the tree, and Phil and Dave saw the wild animal slip down from a branch and then try to regain its footing. Then Dave caught up one of the rifles and blazed away, and the beast dropped to the ground, where it twisted and snarled and yelped in a fashion that served to drive the horses frantic. "What's going on?" cried Roger, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "Who is shooting?" And he got up and felt around in a haphazard manner for a gun. "Wild animal outside--I don't know what it is," answered Dave. Roger joined the others, and blazed away at the beast, and more snapping and snarling followed. The animal rolled clear over the fire, scattering the burning brands in all directions. Then it rolled among the horses. One steed after another kicked at it, and a flying hoof sent it against the tree with a thud. Then it lay quiet. "Must be dead," said Dave, after a pause. "Don't go near it!" screamed Phil. "I won't--not yet," answered Dave. "We'll fix up the fire first." And he kicked the dying embers together and put more wood on the blaze. While he did this, Phil and Roger watched the huddled-up form at the foot of the tree. The horses still snorted and did their best to get away. "I guess it is dead after all," said Phil, after he had poked the beast with a stick. "Wonder what it can be?" "Looks a little like a big wildcat," said Roger. "I know what it is," answered Dave, after all were certain the beast was dead and they had dragged it over to the fire. "It's a cougar, or mountain lion,--one of the worst wild beasts to be found in the West." "Then it's no wonder I got scared when first I saw it," said Phil. "My, what a powerful animal! And it must weigh fifty or sixty pounds." "All of that, Phil." "Is this the beast some call a panther or painter?" asked Roger. "Yes, Roger. I was reading about them in a natural history, and the cougar, mountain lion, puma, panther, and painter are all the same beast. Years ago they were common all over the United States, but now they are to be found only in the Far West and in the South. I think we can count it a big feather in our cap that we killed a cougar." "Do you think he was going to attack us?" asked the senator's son, with a shiver. "He was after the deer. But there is no telling what he might have done. I am glad he is dead. Phil, it was lucky you heard the beast." "Talk about excitement!" cried the shipowner's son. "I rather think we are getting it! Rattlesnakes, deer, and a panther, all in one day and night!"