Ted was a good ball player for a boy of his age, and could throw straight. He had often gone after chestnuts in the woods, and had thrown clubs up into the trees to bring down a shower of brown nuts.
Now he stepped back until he saw that he had a clear aim for the bobcat on a limb out over his head. Ted began to swing his club back and forth.
“I’ve thrown a club farther than this!” thought Ted.
He drew back his arm and let fly the heavy piece of wood. It went straight for the bobcat, and, somewhat to Ted’s surprise, it struck the animal on the nose, its most tender spot.
Instantly it felt the blow of the club on its nose, the lynx sent out a loud howl. Then it snarled and began tearing at the branch with its sharp claws, so that it sent down a shower of bark on Ted.
Then, with another howl, as it rubbed its sore nose between its paws, the lynx turned as if to run down the tree trunk.
“He’s coming after me!” thought Ted. “I’ve made him good and mad and he’s coming after me. I’d better run!”
Before this the boy had “invited” the lynx to come down and be clubbed. But now that he actually saw the beast coming after him, as he thought, Ted could not stand it. Turning, he ran away.
The moon now gave better light than at first, and Ted could see to keep out of the way of trees and bushes. Thus he made better speed.
On and on he ran, not stopping to listen to learn if the lynx were coming after him. He stepped into puddles, but his feet were wet anyhow, and he no longer minded this. Suddenly he saw before him a well made path through the trees—a path that seemed to have been often used.