"It's a lucky thing you had on heavy breeches or you'd have been torn up for fair."
"I've heard of mountain lions but I never knew they came that large," Jack declared. "I'll bet he's all of seven feet from his nose to the tip of his tail. I'd sure like to have him stuffed."
"I thought a few minutes ago that he was going to have you stuffed inside of him," Bob said with a shudder. "That sure was one close call. Deliver me from any more of them."
"The call or the lion?"
"Either or both," Bob assured him.
"Well, come on, we can't wait here all day," Jack said.
"Think you're able to go on?"
"I know it. Anyhow we can't give up now."
A few minutes later they reached the top of the ridge and there they almost at once discovered signs that told them that, instead of going down the other side, Royce had turned to the right.
"Where do you suppose he's heading for?" Jack asked.