Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 202: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

190 The Gray-Coated Pirate. the chances were he would make a flying leap, sinice his muscles were set for such a purpose. He must not find them in the same position when he landed. Accordingly, Cuthbert had no sooner discharged his gun than he threw himself to one side. Even then the body of the panther struck him a glancing blow as he shot past, that well-nigh knocked the rifle out of his hands, and certainly caused his heart to stand still with a certain dread. Though knocked to his knees, Cuthbert did not lose his head. Another cartridge was snapped into the chamber, and then he turned to face the gray- coated monster once more. | The panther was floundering where he struck, snapping his terrible jaws and uttering growls as be- fore, yet evidently partly paralyzed from the effect of the first discharge, and unable to make the leap he designed. “Whoop! you’ve got the critter,’ shouted Karl, approaching with his torch; “finish him neatly now, and spare his head.” The worst was past. Cuthbert trembled with excitement, now that vic- tory seemed within his grasp. | Nevertheless, he managed to draw a bead on the spot where he knew he could reach the animal’s heart, and let fly. That finished Mr. Panther in a jiffy, and Cuthbert drew a sigh of relief when the big tiger cat rolled over, clawing at space. Reaction set in, compelling him to drop his gun and sink to the round. | Karl sprang to his side. “Not hurt, I hope, old fellow?” he asked, solici- tously. Tp s the shock and the strain; I’ll be all right pres- conniclooolkks.conn