The White Crystals

he shivered in dread at the nameless thing which stood growling there before hi

hen he recalled what his aunt had said when Mr. Kimball had joke

, though to the frightened boy this was terrible enough, he was gla

could hear the sharp claws tearing at the bark of the fallen log. He

ake out the animal about fifteen feet from him, crouching low on a fallen tree. It was a beast perhaps two feet long, with a tail that swished from side to side, and it had little short ears that seemed pointed toward him, to catch the sound of any movement he mig

o flee. Off to the left he seemed to observe a little larger opening

him, waiting, waiting, waiting. The boy stopped short with a shudder. He was very much afraid. Though the beast was not large, and though it did n

up courage enough to attack him. That this was its intention the boy had no doubt, though he was sure the wild-cats to be found in the mountains about Cardiff were more a danger and menace to chickens and lambs than to human beings. The

he felt that, with his back to this, he was, in some measure, protected; at least from an attack in the rear. As he retraced

als. So there was but one thing to do with any hope of success. That was to stand and fight off the beast as long as possible. But what weapons had he? He hurriedly felt in his pockets and all he could find was a small knife, which he knew would be of little use when it came to close quarters. A stick, a club, or a stone would be of more service. Yes, that would be better; a club, so Roge

d lower than before on the log and its claws worked more quickly,

the body, and then, from the opened mouth came a cry so dismal, so weird and terrifying to the boy that he shivered in fear, and felt his heart go thum

time he brought the stick down with all his force, aiming at the ugly head. He missed this spot, but struck just behind it, as the brute passed him, and so close was the cat that the claws in i

in. However, the animal seemed disposed to practise a little caution now and to be a trifle wary about repeating its jump. The boy turned partly around and saw the beast

at was to come, even though he knew it was likely to result badly for himself. He had passed through the first s

the leaves through which the beams came made uncertain shadows. Then the boy detected some movement on the part of the beast an

's up to now?" sa

ehind him, so as to leap on his back, he felt, and the boy turned to face in that direction. As he did so he heard a noise near the log where the cat had just been crouching, and he turned quickly

sorely alarmed, with the fear tugging at his hear

him, and, under these circumstances, it was impossible to tell from which point the dangerous leap might come. Surely the boy was in grave danger now, and he felt

his club and waited in an agony of suspense-waited to see the tense body

nife. He was about to cast it from him, not wanting to risk putting it in his pocket, when his fingers touched something that seemed to be caught in the slot-like opening of the handle where the blades wen

s a m

Wild animals fear a blaze. With this match which h

eet he scraped together some dry leaves into a little heap. Then, watching u

too damp to burn. All these thoughts came to him on the instant. But there was no time to lose. He struck the match on the leg of his trousers. It sputtered, fused, and flared brightly. Then it almost died a

up with a crackle. The flames communicated to the leaves, which soon began to ignite, though not brightly, and with more smoke than fire. How anxiously did the boy watch them, for it

and rose from his stooping position over the blaze. There came whizz

rew him forward, and though he tried to save himself, though he bravely endeavored to strike the beast with his club, he felt himself sinking beneath the w

truck the boy o

. He screamed in agony, and then to his great wonderment he noted a sudden ceasing of the weight that was pressing him down. The claws no longer s

-cat sneaking off in the darkness. The burning leaves

flame, shoot through the trees in front of him. Accompanying it there was the sharp report of a rifle, followe

irred in the woods, and into the circle of the blaze stalked a tall dark man whose face

goo