The cub bounded through the glade, dragging me with him. For a few long
leaps I kept my feet, then down I sprawled.
"Hang on! Hang on!" Hiram yelled from behind.
If I had not been angry clear through at that cub I might have let go. He
ploughed my face in the dirt, and almost jerked my arms off. Suddenly the
strain lessened. I got up, to see that the old hunter had hold of the other
rope.
"Now, stretch him out!" he yelled.
Between us we stretched the cub out, so that all he could do was struggle
and paw the air and utter strange cries. Hiram tied his rope to a tree, and
then ran back to relieve me. It was high time. He took my rope and fastened
it to a stout bush.
"Thar, youngster, I reckon thet'll hold him! Now tie his paws an' muzzle
him."
He drew some buckskin thongs from his pocket and handed them to me. We went
up to the straining cub, and Hiram, with one pull of his powerful hands,
brought the hind legs together.
"Tie 'em," he said.
This done, with the aid of a heavy piece of wood he pressed the cub's head
down and wound a thong tightly round the sharp nose. Then he tied the front
legs.
"Thar! Now you loosen the ropes an' wind them up."
When I had done this he lifted the cub and swung him over his broad back.
"Come on, you trail behind, an' keep your eye peeled to see he doesn't work
thet knot off his jaws.
Pages:
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142