BSI Chapter 136 Lion Tracks Appear in Paradise Valley
Chapter 136 Lion Tracks Appear in Paradise Valley
Chapter 136 Lion Tracks Appear in Paradise Valley
Tom looked up at the sound and saw Wade leading a few people walking quickly toward him.
The serious expression on the other person's face made Tom's heart sink instantly; something was wrong.
Wade quickly approached and lowered his voice: "Lions! Signs of activity have been found on the south side of the valley!"
Tom's gaze sharpened; if it weren't for Wade's frighteningly serious expression, he would have almost thought it was a joke about feet.
"Where did this lion come from?" He scanned his surroundings but found nothing.
"The tracks are fresh," Wade's voice was tense. "The direction—it looks like it came from Yellowstone!"
Tom's eyes immediately shifted in his father's direction, and he spoke rapidly, "Wade, take little John to my mother and make sure he's handed over to her. Then immediately inform my father! And find me someone who knows the way!"
Wade nodded emphatically, then quickly shoved a young cowboy behind him in front of Tom: "He's the one who found the traces!"
"Lead the way!" Tom didn't waste any words and mounted his horse.
At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind: he had to confirm the existence and location of the lion.
No matter why it entered Paradise Valley, as long as it remains in the valley, it is a sharp blade hanging over everyone's head!
The horses' hooves crushed the grass, and the group shot off like arrows toward the south side of the valley.
Before they even reached their destination, Tom suddenly pulled on the reins, his eyes scanning the rushing Yellowstone River.
A thought flickered in his mind, and he suddenly turned his horse around, galloping along the riverbank, his sharp gaze repeatedly scanning the river and the opposite bank.
Finally, he stopped again at a bend in the river where the current was swift.
"Cross the river!" Tom shouted, spurring his horse into the icy water, splashing up a large spray.
The group followed closely behind, landing on the west bank and continuing southward.
When they finally stopped near the area Wade had indicated, Tom nimbly dismounted.
He walked in the lead, his figure nimbly traversing the undulating hills and climbing the steep slopes, finally stopping in front of a deep cave entrance half-hidden by bushes.
"Make torches!" Tom commanded without turning his head.
The cowboys behind him immediately sprang into action.
Tom crouched down, his sharp eyes scanning the soft soil and tangled grass around the cave entrance, where several clear, huge claw marks were clearly visible.
He pointed to the tracks and said to the young cowboy who had discovered them, "Look closely, is this it?"
The young cowboy examined it carefully, "Yes!"
After that, Tom stopped talking and closed his eyes to rest.
Waiting for the torches to be finished!
Not long after, the simple torches were made.
Just then!
"Neigh!" The restless neighing of horses and the rapid sound of hooves grew louder as they approached.
The cowboys' hair stood on end instantly, and they all reached for their revolvers at their waists, as if facing a formidable enemy!
Only Tom remained motionless, his gaze calmly fixed on the source of the sound.
The young cowboy was still in shock and uncertainty when several agile figures in gray and black broke through the bushes, rushing straight towards him with a wild aura!
"Draw your gun!" a cowboy cried out in alarm.
"Don't move!!" Tom shouted, his voice booming like thunder, abruptly stopping everyone from drawing their guns!
Immediately afterwards, James, Wade, and Thomas appeared in everyone's sight, following closely behind the "wolves".
"Found it?" James quickly dismounted and rushed to Tom, his voice trembling with breathlessness.
Tom gestured with his chin toward the deep cave entrance: "Inside."
Upon hearing this, even the young cowboy who had initially discovered the traces stared wide-eyed in disbelief; he hadn't seen the lion go in at all!
Tom's gaze shifted to the now quiet, wary "wolves," a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips: "Didn't you notice anything different about them?"
The cowboys, still shaken, finally dared to take a closer look.
These wolves were robust in build, and although their eyes were sharp, they were not wild or mad. More importantly, they all wore dyed leather collars around their necks!
"These are sentinels from the ranch," Tom's voice carried an undeniable authority. "They won't hurt you as long as you don't attack them first. Be careful if you see them on the ranch in the future, but don't scare yourself unnecessarily."
The cowboys looked at each other, nodded hurriedly, and were still deeply shocked.
"Let's go in and take a look!" Tom snatched the torch and was about to rush inside.
A large hand suddenly appeared across his chest.
"I'll go first!" Father James's voice left no room for argument, and he reached out to grab the torch.
Tom flicked his wrist, deftly breaking free, and his figure disappeared into the darkness of the cave.
"Tom!" James's anxious shout echoed at the cave entrance, but all he could see was the glow of the torch moving rapidly through the darkness.
Inside the cave.
The flickering firelight revealed the silhouette of a colossal creature, nearly eight feet long and over two feet tall at the shoulder, its short, tawny fur gleaming matte in the firelight.
It lies there silently, like a giant, lifeless rock, devoid of any sign of life.
"Dead?" Tom's heart sank.
As the firelight drew closer, it became clear that the large patch of dark red blood that had seeped beneath it had long since dried and turned black.
"Gun wound—" he whispered, his gaze sweeping over the fatal injury.
Just then, James, gun at the ready, cautiously followed him in. Seeing his son standing motionless, he followed his gaze and asked, "Is that a lion?"
"He's dead." Tom's voice was heavy as he extended the torch forward. "But not for long."
The body had not yet decomposed or smelled bad, even though the cave was cold and damp.
James looked around; the firelight cast distorted shadows on the rock walls, and an invisible pressure made him want to leave as soon as possible.
"Bury it and let's go!" he ordered decisively, unwilling to linger in this perilous place for even a second longer.
Tom nodded and called out towards the cave entrance, "Wade! Bring some men in and bury the body!"
He paused, then added, "I don't know which hunter inflicted the gunshot wound."
In the vast west, this identity is like finding a needle in a haystack.
"Starting tomorrow, patrols will be twice as thorough!" James immediately gave the order to the cowboys.
Tom turned to leave, but his feet suddenly froze on the spot!
He drew his pistol with lightning speed, and the dark muzzle instantly pointed at the lion carcass on the ground!
This sudden action sent chills down everyone's spines!
Almost simultaneously, several gun barrels were pointed at the massive corpse, and the air inside the cave seemed to freeze.
"What's going on?" James asked in a low voice, his whole body tense.
Tom didn't answer immediately, but an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.
He moved forward with extreme caution, each step treading on the heartbeats of the crowd.
Finally, he crouched down beside the lioness's massive body, reached out, and carefully parted the thick fur on her belly.
In the firelight, a tiny, shivering ball of fur with its eyes tightly shut was revealed!
"A cub!" Tom exclaimed, his fingertips touching the faint body temperature and barely perceptible fluctuations.
Without hesitation, he scooped up the cold little body and quickly stuffed it into his close-fitting shirt, pressing it tightly against his chest.
He quickly searched around the lioness, but found nothing else.
"I'm going first!" Tom said, and rushed out of the cave like a gust of wind.
Back at the camp, he ran into Jonah.
"Quick! Squeeze a bowl of goat's milk and bring it over! Also, find the thickest and longest feather duster! Right now!" Tom's tone was very anxious!
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