“I felt your bullet hiss past my face.”
“So? Should ha’ thought that mought have scared ye to death.”
“Oh, no, I’m used to that.”
“You don’t say!”
“But I’m not used to enemies that spring on a man in the dark without making any noise of warning. That’s what the panther did.”
“Yes, he’d ha’ had ye, sure, ef I hadn’t been here to fire.”
“It was good luck.”
“Wal, I dunno about the luck of it. I was here on purpose. Been a-lookin’ fer that critter.”
“Indeed!”
“Yes; the pesky varmint has been worryin’ the life out of us, and to-night I jest made up my mind that I’d get him. I was pretty durn certain he’d be on the trail somewhere, fer there’s enough as comes over it, you know, to give the scent. I thought he’d be watchin’ fer prey, but I didn’t have no idee that he’d git a chance at any. That’s whar I’m s’prised. How come ye here, stranger?”