But at that moment there came a crashing sound on the far side of a group of palm trees.
The youth was on his feet at the instant, wondering what the noise meant. Then he decided to find out.
“It’s only a short distance from camp,” he thought. “There’s no harm in going over there.”
Grasping his rifle, he stole quietly in the direction of the strange commotion.
It did not take him long to reach the patch of trees. Then he wormed his way through the tall grass for a distance of perhaps twenty feet.
The next instant he shrank back, for the sight that met his eyes was fearful and repulsive.
CHAPTER XIII
The Death Struggle
BESIDE a patch of bushes was a large wildcat, greedily devouring the remains of a small deer. Most of the deer’s body has been torn to pieces, so that only the head remained intact. There was a terrible stare from the wide eyes that caused Bob to shudder in disgust.