Suddenly another form appeared upon the scene.  It came creeping around the hill from beyond the Lookout.  It was a long, low, lithe-bodied, form that moved with the easy, gliding movements of a big cat.  Noiselessly the soft padded feet fell upon the hard rock and loose gravel of the old pathway; the pathway along which so many things had gone for their kill, or had gone to be killed.

Young Matt saw it the moment it appeared.  He started in his place.  He recognized it instantly as the most feared of all the wild things in the mountain wilderness—­a panther.  He saw it sniff the footprints on the trail—­Ollie’s footprints.  He saw it pause and crouch as it caught sight of the man on the rock.

Instantly wild and unwelcome thoughts burned within the strong man’s brain.  The woodsman knew why that thing had come.  Against such a foe the unconscious weakling on the rock there, calmly puffing his cigar, would have no chance whatever.  He would not even know of its presence, until it had made its spring, and its fangs were in his neck.  The man of the wilderness knew just how it would be done.  It would be over in a minute.

The giant clenched his teeth.  Why had he not gone on to his home after leaving the shepherd?  Why had he followed that impulse to stand again where he had stood that afternoon?  Above all, what had possessed him—­what had led him to creep to his present position?  He shot a quick glance around.  How bright—­how bright the moon was!

The panther turned aside from the trail and with silent grace leaped to the ledge, gaining a position on a level with Ollie—­ still unconscious of its presence.  A cold sweat broke out on the big man’s forehead.  The great hands worked.  His breath came in quick gasps.  It could not be laid to his door.  He had only to withdraw, to stop his ears and run, as he had fled that afternoon.  God!  How slowly that thing crept forward, crouching low upon its belly, its tail twitching from side to side, nearer, nearer.  Young Matt felt smothered.  He loosened the collar of his shirt.  The moon—­the moon was so bright!  He could even see the muscles in the beast’s heavy neck and shoulders working under the sleek skin.

Suddenly the words of the shepherd came to him, as though shouted in his ears, “Remember the other beast, lad.  Don’t you see it is this victory only that gives you the right to think of yourself as a man?”

Ollie was almost brushed from his place as the big mountaineer sprang from the shadow, while the panther, startled by the appearance of another man upon the rock, paused.  An exclamation of fright burst from young Stewart, as he took in the situation.  And the giant by his side reached forth a hand to push him back, as he growled, “Shut up and get out of the way!  This here’s my fight!”

At the movement the wild beast seemed to understand that the newcomer was there to rob him of his prey.  With a snarl, it crouched low again, gathering its muscles for the spring.  The giant waited.  Suddenly the sharp crack of a rifle rang out on the still night, echoing and echoing along the mountain.