“Hi there! What are you shooting at?” came a cry from below, and the two boys recognized the voice of Joe Jackson.
“It’s a lion!” called back Andy.
“Then plug him! Plug him quick!” yelled Jackson. “Plug him before he gets a chance to get at you!”
There was no need for this advice, for Andy was already taking aim. This time the bullet passed through the body of the lion and the beast leaped up, turning over and over convulsively. Then Fred managed to steady his mount for a moment, and he, too, fired, this time catching the mountain lion in the ear. Then the beast gave a final leap and tumbled down the rocks almost at the feet of the astonished ranch foreman.
“Are you hurt?” demanded Jackson anxiously, as he gave a glance at the lion to make certain that it was breathing its last.
“No,” came from both of the boys. But it must be confessed that their voices were trembling. They had all they could do to quiet their horses, the steeds showing a great inclination to leap over the rough rocks and run away.
By the time that Fred and Andy managed to descend to the plain below them the stampede of the cattle, which had been only momentary, was coming to an end, only two steers having run away for parts unknown.
“But they’ll come back, Boss,” said one of the cowboys to Jackson. “They always do. You can’t hire ’em to herd by themselves. They’ll sure be back.”
“A mountain lion! What do you know about that!” exclaimed Jack, as he came riding up, followed by the other boys.
“Did he hurt you at all?” questioned Spouter quickly.