It continued to come on, and as it did so Dick commenced to
retreat.
"Hi! what's up?" came from John Barrow, and throwing aside his blanket,
he leaped to his feet.
"A wildcat!" ejaculated Dick. "Quick! Shoot him!"
"By gosh!" muttered the guide, and blinking in the bright light of the
fire, he reached for his rifle, which he had brought along in addition
to his shotgun.
By this time the wildcat was close to Dick, and now, watching its
opportunity, it leaped upon the youth, trying to bury its claws in
Dick's shoulder.
Hardly knowing what to do, Dick brought around the gun barrel and poked
it into the open mouth of the wildcat. With a gurgle of pain the beast
fell back, but quickly gathered itself for another leap.
"Back!" shouted John Barrow. "Back, and let me git a shot at the
critter!"
Dick was perfectly willing to retreat, and started to do so. But the
wildcat was too quick for him, and in a twinkle youth and beast were
down on the ground together, and the wildcat was trying to reach the
boy's throat with its cruel fangs!
CHAPTER XX.
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