The boys had sprung to their feet in alarm at the crack of the pistol, and stood, amazement written on their faces, as Lige and Chunky came toward them.
"What's the row?" asked Ned Rector in as firm a voice as he could muster.
"I got a pussy and he tried to shoot it," wailed Chunky.
"Pussy! Huh! He got a bob-cat and he was trying to catch the brute," growled the guide. "Lucky I got there when I did."
Stacy's eyes opened wide and his face blanched.
"A—a bob-cat?" they gasped.
"Yes; I put a shot into him, but it did not kill kill him! Hear him squall?" the guide made answer.
"Well of all the idiotic things I ever heard of!" exclaimed Ned, gazing at Chunky in bewilderment.
"Yes; it was all of that," grinned Lige.