Meantime, the panther still crouched at the foot of the ladder, staring up at the boys with its wicked yellow eyes, evidently making up its mind to climb into the loft. Cautiously Ned began to creep over the beams to the ladder. Oh, if he could only reach it in time! Would Tom never get the gun loaded and fire? What if a beam should slip, and let him down below? Ned lay out flat upon the shaking beam; he succeeded in reaching the top of the ladder, then, putting all his strength into his arms, he gave it a swift shove, and it fell below with a crash. Just then the old gun rang out; the kick which it gave sent Tom sprawling backward into the hay. As Tom hoped, he had shot the beast; the panther gave another yell. Before the smoke cleared Tom missed Ned; at the same time he heard a faint call. But from where? Where had Ned vanished? Could it be that he had fallen down through the shaking beams to the floor below _with_ the panther? "Quick, Tom, help, help!" called Ned. "I can't hold on any longer; my wrist's hurt." Then Tom saw what had really happened. Ned had slipped through the timbers and hung down below the loft, clinging to a beam with his hands. If he let go, he would fall to the floor below. So, leaping like a cat over the shaking beams, Tom had soon pulled Ned up on to the platform. "Gee, that was a close shave, all right," grunted Tom, quickly reloading the gun, while Ned bade him hurry, for he just knew the panther would jump into the loft. "He don't have to wait for any ladder to climb up here." Right across a wide streak of moonlight crept the panther, and then Tom, aiming for its gleaming eyes, fired the old gun again. "Don't miss him this time, Tom," warned Ned tensely, "or he'll get us." "Bang!" The trusty gun rang out once more, and the boys distinctly heard the sounds of a wild scuffling down upon the old, loose flooring below. "Guess I fixed him _then_," said Tom triumphantly. The panther gave a baffled howl of pain and rage, and deciding that the place was no spot to tarry in, it leaped out and disappeared. "You hit him! I know you did," declared Ned admiringly. "Had to; it was my last shot," replied Tom, wiping his damp forehead with his jacket sleeve. "And say, Ned, I call it a narrow escape." "Think he'll come back?" asked Ned rather huskily, nursing his wrist. "No, not to-night; he's scared stiff, I think; a good thing, too," grinned Tom. "See, it's almost daylight; he won't come back before night, I guess." The boys climbed stiffly down from the loft. To their joy the snow crusts held up, and they soon struck the main trail, reaching camp in time for breakfast. When they returned home, a lumberman was sent with them, for the story of their brave fight with the huge panther had excited much interest in camp and they found themselves heroes.