There was one thing Buster wanted, and that was to get safely inside the cave, and the moment Loup sprang in the air he started for it. But Loup was a quick, powerful dodger, and before the cub could reach the entrance the Lynx had taken another long jump and landed directly in front of him.
Buster, to escape him, wheeled so suddenly that he rolled all over in a heap. The rock sloped down toward the water, and the cub rolled down it so fast that Loup was unable to catch him. It was the only thing that saved Buster’s life.
He had never been in the river, and he didn’t know whether he could swim or not, but he much preferred the water to Loup’s dripping jaws. So instead of trying to check his rolling he kicked out to make himself go faster.
Loup reached him just as he got at the edge of the rocks, and with one paw tried to crush his head and body; but again he missed him, and merely cut a deep gash in Buster’s shoulder. The next moment the cub splashed into the river, and went down, down, down until it seemed to him there was no bottom.
In the next story you will hear of how Buster was rescued from the river.
STORY III
How Buster Got Out of the River
Buster had never been in water over his head before, and you can imagine his feelings when it got in his eyes, mouth, ears and nose. He coughed and kicked, and made a great splutter, but after all it was more fright than real danger. He was such a fat little cub that he couldn’t sink to the bottom, and stay there.