“What did you mean when you said it wasn’t safe in the woods?” asked Tavia, in her eyes the joyful gleam that the prospect of danger and excitement always brought to them. “Any lions or ‘tagers’ or such-like beasts loose, do you suppose?”
But Ma Petterby did not return Tavia’s smile. She remained unusually grave and the face of Sue reflected that gravity.
“No lions or tigers that I knows on,” she replied. “But they’s been a panther hauntin’ these woods of late.”
“A panther! How gorgeous!” cried the irrepressible. “I have always wanted to meet one, Mrs. Petterby.”
“Panthers aren’t likely to attack without provocation, are they?” asked Dorothy, and this time it was Sue who answered.
“Most animals—wild animals, that is—would rather slink off without making a fuss unless they’re cornered and have to fight,” she said. But after a momentary pause she went on with a grim tightening of her mouth that made her suddenly look like a man: “But there are some of ’em that are just naturally mean an’ that likes to kill for the sake o’ killin’. This panther’s one o’ that kind.”
“Better wait inside for Lance,” urged Ma Petterby again. “Under the circumstances, he wouldn’t like for us to let you go.”
But the girls persisted, pointing out that it was better for them to go then than to wait until evening should fill the woods with shadowy lurking places.
For once Tavia agreed with Dorothy and seconded her. Not that she was particularly anxious concerning Joe, for she had long since decided in her own mind that he was safe with Garry, but that mention of the panther had roused her curiosity and interest and made her doubly eager to start on the trail again.
The two girls turned to wave to Susan Petterby with little Octavia Susan in her arms and to Ma Petterby just before a sharp bend in the trail hid the small cabin from view.