Teddy obeyed, and the merry-go-round on which the trees were riding came gradually to a stop.
The boy got to his feet again, and this time he stayed there.
“Where’s my friend?� he asked, looking about. “Ah, there she is. A beauty, hey, Dad?� he touched the dead mountain lion with his foot. “Look at that hide! Say, do you think we can get her up out of here and cart her along home?�
“Don’t see why not,� his father answered. “Golly, boy, do you know you went for this lion with your bare hands? Went right at her!�
“Did I?� Teddy said indifferently. He kicked the carcass again. “Must have been a little crazy, I guess. I didn’t know what it was all about for a while.�
He walked over toward the spring. Suddenly he uttered an exclamation.
“Well, for the love of Pete! Dad! Take a look at this! No wonder the old lady wanted to fight. Can you beat this?�
Mr. Manley hurried to his son’s side and bent over. In a scooped-out hollow of the wall, partly screened by bushes, he saw two little, yellow kittens.
“Baby lions!â€� the ranch owner cried. “Say, Teddy, we’ve got to save ’em! We shot their mother, and now it’s up to us to help the babies make a start in the world. We can—â€�
“Hey-y-y, Dad!� came from above. “Here are Pop and Gus and Nick! Want me to come down?�