"I dursn't shoot, Master Nat, I dursn't shoot. I aren't clever with a
gun, and I should hit you."
I knew this was quite true, and that under the circumstances I dared not
have fired, so I lay perfectly still, trying to think out what to do,
for the animal seemed determined not to leave me, and I began to grow
giddy as well as faint.
Then I started, for there was a rustling of the grass and a sharp crack,
as if Pete had trodden upon a dead twig.
The puma growled again furiously, and then as I started, seized my
collar tight in its teeth and shook me, for the sharp report of the gun
Pete carried rang out, followed by that of a second barrel, when I heard
the loud whirr of wings, and felt sure that three or four more specimens
of the lovely orange-tinted birds I sought had been scared into flight.
But the firing in the air had not scared the puma, which lowered its
head again and seized my collar, clinging tightly, and working its claws
in and out of their sheaths.
"It's no good, Master Nat," cried Pete; "it don't frighten him a bit.
Shall I run back and tell the doctor?"
"No," I said softly, so as not to irritate the puma; "you could not get
back till after dark, and I should be dead before then."
"What shall I do then, Master Nat? What shall I do? I want to save
you, but I'm such a coward. I don't care, though; he shall have my
knife into him if I die for it! Ah, I know!" he cried exultingly,
"Whoo--hoo--oo--oo--oo!"
To my astonishment and delight, just as I was nearly fainting, the puma
gave a furious growl and a tremendous bound, leaving me free, and as I
struggled to my feet, panting and exhausted, I caught sight of Pete
twenty yards away in the act of picking up his straw hat, with which he
returned to me, grinning with delight.
"That done it," he cried. "He couldn't understand it a bit, I sent my
old hat skimming at him, and I say, he did cut away. I say, you aren't
much hurt, are you, sir?"
"N-no," I said hesitatingly, "I think not. Look at my neck and
shoulder. See if they bleed."
"Yes," cried Pete excitedly, "he's got hold of you at the back o' the
neck and ragged you. Where's your hankychy?"
I turned deathly sick with horror as I drew out my handkerchief and gave
it to him; and then I felt ashamed of myself, for Pete burst out
laughing.
"He aren't touched your neck, Master Nat," he cried, "on'y got hold of
the collar of your jacket and chawed it a bit. I say, who'd ha' thought
an old straw hat was better than a gun!"
"Can we get some water?" I said hoarsely.
"Yes, there's some trickles down into a bit of a pool yonder, where I
found my hat. Come on."
A few minutes later I was bathing my hands and face, after we had lain
down and drunk heartily of the sweet, cool, clear water, to rise up
refreshed, and as the puma had disappeared, feeling as if the danger
through which we had passed was very far away.
"How d'yer feel now, Master Nat?" asked Pete.
"Oh, better; much better," I said quickly.
"Good job he didn't begin eating of you, ain't it, sir?"
"Yes, Pete, a very good job," I said heartily.
"Then let's go on and shoot some more of them yaller birds."