When I reached the point where the cougar had entered the slide, I called the hounds, but they did not come nor answer me.

Notwithstanding my excitement, I appreciated the distance to the bottom of the slope before I reached it.

In my haste, I ran upon the verge of a precipice twice as deep as the first rim wall, but one glance down sent me shatteringly backward.
With all the breath I had left I yelled: "Waa-hoo! Waa-hoo!" From the echoes flung at me, I imagined at first that my friends were right on my ears.

But no real answer came.

The cougar had probably passed along this second rim wall to a break, and had gone down.