“Yes, I think I shall,” the lad said somewhat dismally. “What was it you said chased me?”
“A puma of the largest species. Do you wish to see it?” and Ferguson led the way a few steps to the right where the carcass of the animal lay in the long grass.
Its legs were drawn up close to the body, proof that it had died in a convulsion, and Harvey shuddered as he looked at the long, sharp claws that protruded from soft, spongelike feet. These were the feet he had heard striking the ground in pursuit. The puma somewhat resembled a leopard, and measured forty-five inches from the nose to the root of the tail, and the tail was as long as the body. The head was rather small, the ears large and rounded. The skin was a tawny, yellowish brown, and the lower part of the body a dirty white.
“Ugh!” exclaimed Harvey, shuddering.
They walked back to camp. After supper Ferguson said:—
“I move we adopt a couple of rules, to apply for the remainder of the journey.”
“What are they?” asked Hope-Jones.
“First, that we keep within hailing distance of one another.
“Second, that one of us always has a gun in hand.”
“Agreed,” said the Englishman, and Harvey nodded his head in approval.