It was now too late to relieve them--the cougar was within a hundred yards of the camp! All three, along with Marengo, placed themselves within the _circle of fire_.

Fortunately, there was no wind--not a breath--and the smoke rose vertically upward, leaving them a breathing space within.

There they stood, guns in hand.

Around them the fires blazed and crackled; but above the snapping of the knots, and the hiss of the spurting piping tree gas, could be heard the wild cry of the cougar! It now became evident on what side the animal was; for, as the young hunters peered through the smoke and blaze, they could distinguish the yellow cat-like body, moving to and fro under the hanging meat.

The rounded head, the long hollow back, the smooth tawny skin, were not to be mistaken.