"But supposing the wildcat had jumped on you!" And the girl shivered and caught him by the arm. "I should have defended myself as best I could, Jessie." "You--you mustn't take such risks," the pretty girl whispered, and looked wistfully into Dave's eyes. "I--I can't stand it, Dave!" And then she blushed and turned her face away. "I'll be very careful after this, Jessie--for your sake," he answered, softly and tenderly. CHAPTER XXII COWBOY TRICKS AND "BRONCO-BUSTING" "You boys sure did have a day of sport," said Sid Todd, after he had inspected the fish, the grouse, and the wildcat. "And you've proved that you can shoot," he added, nodding toward the slain beast. "I've known many a putty good hunter to get the shakes when he see a bobcat a-glarin' at him from a tree. It ain't no tender sight, is it now?" "Not much!" answered Phil, warmly. He had been as close to getting the "shakes" as any one of the three. "I was glad when I knew he was dead." "Something about a bobcat I don't like," went on the cowboy. "We used to hunt 'em--when they got after the sheep some years ago. Once one of 'em jest about got me by the throat, an' I ain't forgitting it! I'd rather face a bear, I think." "You mustn't forget that you are to take us to the mountains on a hunting expedition," came from Roger. "We want to get some deer, or an elk, before we go back East." "I'll take you--don't worry," answered the cowboy. The news soon spread around the ranch that the "tenderfeet" had killed a big bobcat, and all the hands came to get a look at the beast. They praised the boys, and said they must be nervy hunters or they could not have done it. Of course the lads were correspondingly proud, and who can blame them? The animal was prepared for stuffing, and then sent off by express to a taxidermist in the city. After talking the matter over among themselves, the boys decided to tell Mr. Endicott about the piece of Mexican halter they had picked up. He listened gravely to what they had to say, and looked at the bit of leather curiously. "I am afraid it is not much in the way of evidence," said he. "But I'll remember it, and we'll have to watch Link Merwell--that is, as well as we can. There would be no gain in speaking to Mr. Merwell, it would only stir up the bad feeling that already exists. I understand that he has had an offer for his ranch from somebody in the East, and I trust he sells out and moves somewhere else." "So do I," echoed Dave, heartily. "Some place where none of us will ever hear of him or his son again." Two days after the shooting of the wildcat, Sid Todd announced that the cowboys of Star Ranch and Hooper Ranch, up the river, were going to hold a contest in "bronco-busting" and in fancy riding. All the young folks were invited to be present and a little stand was to be erected, from which they might view what was going on in comfort. "Hurrah! that suits me!" cried Dave. "I've been wanting to see them break in a real bronco."