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hort； and there she hung in mid…air； writhing； struggling and giving utterance to sounds terribly human。 For several seconds she swung； slowly descending； in which frenzied time I； with ruling passion uppermost； endeavored to snap a picture of her。
The unintelligible commands Jones was yelling to Frank and me ceased suddenly with a sharp crack of breaking wood。 Then crash！ Jones fell out of the tree。 The lasso streaked up； ran over the limb； while the cougar dropped pell…mell into the bunch of waiting； howling dogs。
The next few moments it was impossible for me to distinguish what actually transpired。 A great flutter of leaves whirled round a swiftly changing ball of brown and black and yellow； from which came a fiendish clamor。
Then I saw Jones plunge down the ravine and bounce here and there in mad efforts to catch the whipping lasso。 He was roaring in a way that made all his former yells merely whispers。 Starting to run； I tripped on a root； fell prone on my face into the ravine； and rolled over and over until I brought up with a bump against a rock。
What a tableau rivited my gaze！ It staggered me so I did not think of my camera。 I stood transfixed not fifteen feet from the cougar。 She sat on her haunches with body well drawn back by the taut lasso to which Jones held tightly。 Don was standing up with her； upheld by the hooked claws in his head。 The cougar had her paws outstretched； her mouth open wide； showing long； cruel； white fangs； she was trying to pull the head of the dog to her。 Don held back with all his power； and so did Jones。 Moze and Sounder were tussling round her body。 Suddenly both ears of the dog pulled out； slit into ribbons。 Don had never uttered a sound； and once free； he made at her again with open jaws。 One blow sent him reeling and stunned。 Then began again that wrestling whirl。
〃Beat off the dogs！ Beat off the dogs！〃 roared Jones。 〃She'll kill them！ She'll kill them！〃
Frank and I seized clubs and ran in upon the confused furry mass； forgetful of peril to ourselves。 In the wild contagion of such a savage moment the minds of men revert wholly to primitive instincts。 We swung our clubs and yelled； we fought all over the bottom of the ravine； crashing through the bushes； over logs and stones。 I actually felt the soft fur of the cougar at one fleeting instant。 The dogs had the strength born of insane fighting spirit。 At last we pulled them to where Don lay； half…stunned； and with an arm tight round each； I held them while Frank turned to help Jones。
The disheveled Jones； bloody； grim as death； his heavy jaw locked； stood holding to the lasso。 The cougar； her sides shaking with short； quick pants； crouched low on the ground with eyes of purple fire。
〃For God's sake； get a half…hitch on the saplin'！〃 called the cowboy。
His quick grasp of the situation averted a tragedy。 Jones was nearly exhausted； even as he was beyond thinking for himself or giving up。 The cougar sprang； a yellow； frightful flash。 Even as she was in the air； Jones took a quick step to one side and dodged as he threw his lasso round the sapling。 She missed him； but one alarmingly outstretched paw grazed his shoulder。 A twist of Jones's big hand fastened the lassoand Kitty was a prisoner。 While she fought； rolled； twisted； bounded； whirled； writhed with hissing； snarling fury； Jones sat mopping the sweat and blood from his face。
Kitty's efforts were futile； she began to weaken from the choking。 Jones took another rope； and tightening a noose around her back paws； which he lassoed as she rolled over； he stretched her out。 She began to contract her supple body； gave a savage； convulsive spring； which pulled Jones flat on the ground； then the terrible wrestling started again。 The lasso slipped over her back paws。 She leaped the whole length of the other lasso。 Jones caught it and fastened it more securely； but this precaution proved unnecessary； for she suddenly sank down either exhausted or choked； and gasped with her tongue hanging out。 Frank slipped the second noose over her back paws； and Jones did likewise with a third lasso over her right front paw。 These lassoes Jones tied to different saplings。
〃Now you are a good Kitty；〃 said Jones； kneeling by her。 He took a pair of clippers from his hip pocket； and grasping a paw in his powerful fist he calmly clipped the points of the dangerous claws。 This done； he called to me to get the collar and chain that were tied to his saddle。 I procured them and hurried back。 Then the old buffalo hunter loosened the lasso which was round her neck； and as soon as she could move her head； he teased her to bite a club。 She broke two good sticks with her sharp teeth； but the third； being solid； did not break。 While she was chewing it Jones forced her head back and placed his heavy knee on the club。 In a twinkling he had strapped the collar round her neck。 The chain he made fast to the sapling。 After removing the club from her mouth he placed his knee on her neck； and while her head was in this helpless position he dexterously slipped a loop of thick copper wire over her nose； pushed it back and twisted it tight Following this； all done with speed and precision； he took from his pocket a piece of steel rod； perhaps one…quarter of an inch thick； and five inches long。 He pushed this between Kitty's jaws； just back of her great white fangs； and in front of the copper wire。 She had been shorn of her sharp weapons； she was muzzled； bound； helpless； an object to pity。
Lastly Jones removed the three lassoes。 Kitty slowly gathered her lissom body in a ball and lay panting； with the same brave wildfire in her eyes。 Jones stroked her black…tipped ears and ran his hand down her glossy fur。 All the time he had kept up a low monotone； talking to her in the strange language he used toward animals。 Then he rose to his feet。
〃We'll go back to camp now； and get a pack； saddle and horse；〃 he said。 〃She'll be safe here。 We'll rope her again； tie her up； throw her over a pack…saddle； and take her to camp。〃
To my utter bewilderment the hounds suddenly commenced fighting among themselves。 Of all the vicious bloody dog…fights I ever saw that was the worst。 I began to belabor them with a club； and Frank sprang to my assistance。 Beating had no apparent effect。 We broke a dozen sticks； and then Frank grappled with Moze and I with Sounder。 Don kept on fighting either one till Jones secured him。 Then we all took a rest； panting and weary。
〃What's it mean？〃 I ejaculated； appealing to Jones。
〃Jealous； that's all。 Jealous over the lion。〃
We all remained seated； men and hounds； a sweaty； dirty； bloody； ragged group。 I discovered I was sorry for Kitty。 I forgot all the carcasses of deer and horses； the brutality of this species of cat； and even forgot the grim； snarling yellow devil that had leaped at me。 Kitty was beautiful and helpless。 How brave she was； too！ No sign of fear shone in her wonderful eyes； only hate； defiance； watchfulness。
On the ride back to camp Jones expressed himself thus： 〃How happy I am that I can keep this lion and the others we are going to capture； for my own。 When I was in the Yellowstone Park I did not get to keep one of the many I captured。 The military officials to