As if to add to their terrible situation, the boys now saw that _not one, but a pair_, of these fearful creatures were upon the ground, moving backward and forward, passing each other, and looking eagerly up at the meat where it hung.
It now occurred to the hunters what an oversight they had made, in not cutting down the meat.

Had they done so, the cougars would no doubt have devoured it, and moved off after satisfying their hunger.

Alas! it was too late for such a thought.
For several minutes the animals continued to walk backward and forward, eagerly eyeing the tempting object above them.

Several times they sprang up, as if to seize it; but their efforts fell far short, and they desisted.

One of them now ran up the tree, to which the lasso was fastened.