Page:They who walk in the wilds, (IA theywhowalkinwil00robe).pdf/34

 and ran to meet them, prancing like a gigantic kitten in his delight.

At this appalling apparition the two children dropped the dinner-pail with a loud clatter, stood for one second with eyes starting from their heads, then turned and fled for their lives.

To Mishi the children's flight was all in the game. On the ranch he had been accustomed to chase the children, till they grew tired of running away, when they would turn and chase him, after which he would throw himself down on his back and they would all fall over him. He had been severely taught by Merivale never to be rough in his play. Now he overtook the children, brushed past them, and careered on ahead. The little boy stumbled and fell down, his knees giving way beneath him in his terror, as in a nightmare. The little girl stopped short with a dry sob of anguish, and stood over him, confronting, as she thought, instant death. She shook her apron at Mishi and cried tremulously: "Go way! Scat!"

To her amazement the great tawny beast, instead of pouncing upon her, at the sound of her voice immediately sat up like a pussy-cat and began to purr—a mighty sound, but even to her horrified ears, an unmistakable purr. She stared with all her eyes. Again she cried "Scat"—but with a little more confidence. It was an unfamiliar word to Mishi, and he could not make out what