“That’s Frank,” Joe said when he heard it. He looked around. “It came from back there.” Joe led Gene and Lloyd back in the direction of Frank’s whistle. “Whoa, look at that!” Joe said, spotting the mountain lion standing in the path in front of them. Its long tail flashed back and forth, and a red bandanna was tied around its neck. A small hunk was missing from the edge of its left ear. “Stand still,” Lloyd reminded them all. “It’s been around people.” He drew his tranquilizer gun, just in case, but it wasn’t needed. The cat bolted away. “I’m down here,” Frank called when he heard their voices. Joe and Gene rushed to the edge of the pit. “I’m going after that cat,” Lloyd said. “It’s the same one that attacked you this morning, Joe. You three follow me when you get Frank out.” “Hey, are you okay?” Joe flashed his beam around the bottom of the pit. Frank was standing, smiling up at him. “I’ll tell you what——I’d rather see your face up there than the one that was looking down at me a few minutes ago.”
