The blazing optics belonged to a monstrous wildcat!
As quick as a flash Pawnee Brown raised his pistol and pulled the trigger.
Crack! The wildcat was hit in the side. The shot was a glancing one and did but little damage.
Whirr! down came the body straight for the boomer, landing half upon his shoulder and half upon Bonnie Bird's mane.
The little mare was thoroughly frightened, and giving a snort and a plunge she threw both rider and wildcat to the ground.
As Pawnee Brown went down he tried to push the monstrous cat from him, but the beast had its claws fastened in the scout's clothing and could not be shook off.
Crack! Again Pawnee Brown fired. The flash was almost directly in the wildcat's face, and shot in the left forepaw the beast uttered a fearful howl of pain and dropped back.
But only for an instant. The pain only increased its anger, and with gleaming teeth it crouched down and made another spring, right for the boomer's throat.
Crack! crack! twice again the pistol rang out. But the big cat was now wary and both shots failed to take effect.
The pistol being now empty, Pawnee Brown hurled it at the enraged beast, striking it in the nose and eliciting another scream of rage.