Outside that limited space of ground it was null and void. He was a free man under the laws of his own government. Yet that act, of his own creation, somehow seemed to stand over him like a Frankenstein with an uplifted axe. The snow was deep, and as he plodded along with these thoughts running through his mind, he heard a cry. Glancing backwards he saw a horse drawing a sleigh, plunging madly down the road. The reins were held by a woman, frantically urging the horse forward. Some distance behind four huge mountain lions were in hot pursuit, their heavy bodies crouching and springing forward many feet at a leap. Carson took in the situation at a glance and, raising his hand as a signal to the girl in the sleigh to rein in, he sprang into the vehicle as she passed. The momentary pause had given the beasts a chance to gain, when, drawing his revolver, he fired at the foremost and sent it rolling in the snow. Another shot and a second lion paused with a mighty roar. At this the other two turned and fled in the opposite direction. Carson now took the reins and stopped the horse. The animal was trembling with fright, while the girl was calm but pale. "Rather a close shave, eh, Sis?" "Truly," she replied, "how fortunate you were here. I was driving to Del Norte when I met the lions. They were gamboling in the snow like kittens. When I turned Bess, they pursued. I want the one you have just killed, I want to have him mounted to remember today,--and--and--you." "By all means, Miss, you shall have it, but where are you going now?" "Back to Saguache after this fright. Poor Old Bess could not have stood the race much farther. See how she trembles. I am the niece of Mr. Amos. My name is Annie Amos. I have friends in Del Norte, whom I intended to visit. I shall wait now until I have an escort." "Ah--my name is Carson--Jack Carson. I was going to Saguache to see Mr. Amos, the assayer, to have him test a jug handle,--er, that is, to have the jug handle test him. I don't mean that; I mean our mine is named the Jug Handle, I will get it right after awhile, and I want him to make a test of the ore." "Confound it," he thought as he turned the horse, "I haven't the sense of a jackrabbit to make a break like that." One of the lions lay pawing the snow in its death struggle and as Carson came near, it reared itself as if to make one last leap. Its eyes gleamed in savage yellow, foam fell in flecks from its mouth, while a tiny stream of crimson stained the snow. Carson's weapon spit fire and the creature rolled over motionless. He dragged the carcass to the end of the sleigh and, lifting it upon the edge of the box, made it fast. "If you are going to Saguache to see my uncle, I fear you will be disappointed as he left this morning for an absence of several days." "That does not matter as I have other business anyway. Most any time will do, as I am in town quite often. We would better not drive so fast. Your horse is in a foam."