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t； to realize that the best of life lies in the daily needs of existence； and to battle for them！
Nothing could be stronger than the simple enumeration and statement of the facts of Wallace's experience after he left Jim。 He chased the cougar； and kept it in sight； until it went over the second rim wall。 Here he dropped over a precipice twenty feet high； to alight on a fan…shaped slide which spread toward the bottom。 It began to slip and move by jerks； and then started off steadily； with an increasing roar。 He rode an avalanche for one thousand feet。 The jar loosened bowlders from the walls。 When the slide stopped； Wallace extricated his feet and began to dodge the bowlders。 He had only time to jump over the large ones or dart to one side out of their way。 He dared not run。 He had to watch them coming。 One huge stone hurtled over his head and smashed a pinyon tree below。
When these had ceased rolling； and he had passed down to the red shale； he heard Sounder baying near； and knew a cougar had been treed or cornered。 Hurdling the stones and dead pinyons； Wallace ran a mile down the slope； only to find he had been deceived in the direction。 He sheered off to the left。 Sounder's illusive bay came up from a deep cleft。 Wallace plunged into a pinyon； climbed to the ground； skidded down a solid slide； to come upon an impassable the obstacle in the form of a solid wall of red granite。 Sounder appeared and came to him； evidently having given up the chase。
Wallace consumed four hours in making the ascent。 In the notch of the curve of the second rim wall； he climbed the slippery steps of a waterfall。 At one point； if he had not been six feet five inches tall he would have been compelled to attempt retracing his trailan impossible task。 But his height enabled him to reach a root； by which he pulled himself up。 Sounder he lassoed a la Jones； and hauled up。 At another spot； which Sounder climbed； he lassoed a pinyon above； and walked up with his feet slipping from under him at every step。 The knees of his corduroy trousers were holes； as were the elbows of his coat。 The sole of his left boot； which he used most in climbingwas gone； and so was his hat。
CHAPTER 15。 JONES ON COUGARS
The mountain lion； or cougar； of our Rocky Mountain region； is nothing more nor less than the panther。 He is a little different in shape； color and size； which vary according to his environment。 The panther of the Rockies is usually light； taking the grayish hue of the rocks。 He is stockier and heavier of build； and stronger of limb than the Eastern species； which difference comes from climbing mountains and springing down the cliffs after his prey。
In regions accessible to man； or where man is encountered even rarely； the cougar is exceedingly shy； seldom or never venturing from cover during the day。 He spends the hours of daylight high on the most rugged cliffs； sleeping and basking in the sunshine； and watching with wonderfully keen sight the valleys below。 His hearing equals his sight； and if danger threatens； he always hears it in time to skulk away unseen。 At night he steals down the mountain side toward deer or elk he has located during the day。 Keeping to the lowest ravines and thickets； he creeps upon his prey。 His cunning and ferocity are keener and more savage in proportion to the length of time he has been without food。 As he grows hungrier and thinner； his skill and fierce strategy correspondingly increase。 A well…fed cougar will creep upon and secure only about one in seven of the deer； elk； antelope or mountain sheep that he stalks。 But a starving cougar is another animal。 He creeps like a snake； is as sure on the scent as a vulture； makes no more noise than a shadow； and he hides behind a stone or bush that would scarcely conceal a rabbit。 Then he springs with terrific force； and intensity of purpose； and seldom fails to reach his victim； and once the claws of a starved lion touch flesh； they never let go。
A cougar seldom pursues his quarry after he has leaped and missed； either from disgust or failure； or knowledge that a second attempt would be futile。 The animal making the easiest prey for the cougar is the elk。 About every other elk attacked falls a victim。 Deer are more fortunate； the ratio being one dead to five leaped at。 The antelope； living on the lowlands or upland meadows； escapes nine times out of ten； and the mountain sheep； or bighorn； seldom falls to the onslaught of his enemy。
Once the lion gets a hold with the great forepaw； every movement of the struggling prey sinks the sharp； hooked claws deeper。 Then as quickly as is possible； the lion fastens his teeth in the throat of his prey and grips till it is dead。 In this way elk have carried lions for many rods。 The lion seldom tears the skin of the neck； and never； as is generally supposed； sucks the blood of its victim； but he cuts into the side； just behind the foreshoulder； and eats the liver first。 He rolls the skin back as neatly and tightly as a person could do it。 When he has gorged himself； he drags the carcass into a ravine or dense thicket； and rakes leaves； sticks or dirt over it to hide it from other animals。 Usually he returns to his cache on the second night； and after that the frequency of his visits depends on the supply of fresh prey。 In remote regions； unfrequented by man； the lion will guard his cache from coyote and buzzards。
In sex there are about five female lions to one male。 This is caused by the jealous and vicious disposition of the male。 It is a fact that the old Toms kill every young lion they can catch。 Both male and female of the litter suffer alike until after weaning time； and then only the males。 In this matter wise animal logic is displayed by the Toms。 The domestic cat； to some extent； possesses the same trait。 If the litter is destroyed； the mating time is sure to come about regardless of the season。 Thus this savage trait of the lions prevents overproduction； and breeds a hardy and intrepid race。 If by chance or that cardinal feature of animal lifethe survival of the fittesta young male lion escapes to the weaning time； even after that he is persecuted。 Young male lions have been killed and found to have had their flesh beaten until it was a mass of bruises and undoubtedly it had been the work of an old Tom。 Moreover； old males and females have been killed； and found to be in the same bruised condition。 A feature； and a conclusive one； is the fact that invariably the female is suckling her young at this period； and sustains the bruises in desperately defending her litter。
It is astonishing how cunning； wise and faithful an old lioness is。 She seldom leaves her kittens。 From the time they are six weeks old she takes them out to train them for the battles of life； and the struggle continues from birth to death。 A lion hardly ever dies naturally。 As soon as night descends； the lioness stealthily stalks forth； and because of her little ones； takes very short steps。 The cubs follow； stepping in their mother's tracks。 When she crouches for game； each little lion crouches also； and each one remains perfectly still until she springs； or signals them to come。 If she secures the prey； they all gorge themselves。 After the feast the mother takes her back trail； stepping in the tracks she made coming down the mountain。 And the cubs are very careful to follow suit； and not to leave marks of their trail in the soft snow。 No doubt this habit is practiced to keep their deadly enemies in ignorance of their existence。 The old Toms and white hunters are their only foes。 Indians never kill a lion。 This trick of the lions has fooled many a hunter； concerning not only the direction； but particularly the number。
The only successful way to hunt lions is with trained dogs。 A good hound can trail them for several hours after the tracks have been made； and on a cloudy or wet day can hold the scent much longer。 In snow the hound can trail for three or four days after the track has been made。
When Jones was game warden of the Yellowstone National Park； he had unexampled opportunities to hunt cougars and learn their habits。 All the cougars in that region of the Rockies made a rendezvous of the game preserve。 Jones soon procured a pack of hounds； b