“You just bet I will!” cried the other, bounding forward.

Frank saw him give the smoldering fire a kick that started it into new life.  Then, bending over, he snatched a brand and came running back.

“Where are you, Frank?  What under the sun happened?  Not hurt, are you?” was what he was singing out, his voice trembling with eagerness and anxiety.

“Everything all right, Jerry.  Come this way.  Now poke the blaze over yonder.”

Jerry gave a shout.

“Something’s moving!  It’s kicking its last, by the great horn spoon!  Frank’s got his bear—­no, I’ll be hanged if it is!  A panther, Joe, a panther!”

He stood there like a statue, holding the torch and staring at the sleek gray form stretched out under the tree, and which was, in fact, giving the very last kick, as he had declared.

Frank laughed, a little hysterically, it may be assumed, for the strain on his nerves had been tremendous.

“Unexpected visitor, eh, Jerry?  Didn’t send out an invitation to this slippery gentleman, did we?  But he insisted on joining the family circle, and I just had to ask him in,” he said, trying to steady his voice, while, unseen by Jerry, his hands were shaking as he clutched his gun.

“Tell me about that, will you!  Oh, yes, he came, all right.  That was a warm invitation he couldn’t resist.  But how did you see him, Frank?  Where was the sly old cat?  Say! he must have jumped for you, I guess, for that was just where you were squatting!”

Frank shuddered as he saw that this was true.  Only for his quick action in vacating his position he must have been torn by the poisonous claws of the dying beast.

“He was sitting just above my head, on that limb there,” he remarked quietly.

“Talk to me about your cute ones, what could equal that?  Do you think the old slinker was there all the time?” demanded Jerry, shaking his head.

“Oh, no.  That is out of the question.  Our coming must have alarmed him if he had been so close by.  I imagine he crept through the trees while we lay here waiting, like so many mummies.”

“I say, Frank, do panthers like honey?” demanded the other.

“Well, now, you’ve got me there.  Never having had any experience in that line, I’m in the dark.  How about it, Joe?” laughed Frank.

“I never heard of one that did.  S’pect he was snoopin’ around to see what we was a-doin’ here.  Then there was the smell of the blood from the deer, you know,” explained the Florida boy wisely.

“Why, of course!  That’s it.  But I say, Frank, do we cut out the bear hunt now?”

“That’s for you to say.  I’ve had my shot, but if you’re satisfied to stay, why, count on me to keep you company.”

“I had my heart set on bear steak.  The only thing is, will old Bruin come now, after all this rumpus?” said Jerry disconsolately.

“If half that I’ve heard about his liking for wild honey is true, a dozen rackets like that couldn’t keep him away.  Joe, you know.  Tell us if that isn’t so?” asked Frank.