Page:They who walk in the wilds, (IA theywhowalkinwil00robe).pdf/18

 highly competent foreman—chiefly as an excuse for a long summer's holiday and hunting. It was not till near the end of September that he started back for his home in Nova Scotia, taking his puma cub with him. The cub, now nearly six months old, was approaching his full stature, and was a peculiarly fine specimen of his race. Having by this time lost the dark markings which adorn all puma cubs at their birth, he was of a beautiful golden fawn all over the upper parts, and creamy white beneath, with a line of darker hue along his backbone, and a brown tip to his long and powerful tail. His ears and nose were black, which gave a finish to his distinguished colouring. In length he was close upon seven feet, counting his two-foot-six tail. His height at the shoulder was a little under two feet. In his play, which was always gentle, thanks to Merivale's wise training, he was the embodiment of lithe, swift strength. His savage inherited instincts having been lulled to sleep or else never awakened, he was on the best of terms with all the dwellers upon the ranch, whether human or otherwise, the cattle alone excepted. These latter could never endure the sight or the smell of him. Very early in his career he had learned to regard them as his implacable enemies, and to keep carefully out of their way.

With the children on the ranch—there were