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Lewis and Clark
(1804-1806)

George Shannon- Lost in the New World II

George Shannon- Lost in the New World II
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   high interest, readability grades 9 to 12
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   3.48

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    copper-skinned, half-afraid, thicket, cougar, buckskin, keelboat, panther, nicker, willed, riverbank, lash, better, shocking, reload, paced, inland
     content words:    But Shannon, Big Muddy

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George Shannon- Lost in the New World II
By Toni Lee Robinson 		  
1     Shannon's heart nearly stopped. The panther leaped from the rock ledge. It paced toward him. But Shannon willed himself still. He kept backing toward the trees. The cougar followed him, footstep for footstep. It made no sound. Its great golden head was lowered. Its tail swished from side to side. From that stance, it could crouch and leap in a split second.
 
2     He cursed his carelessness in forgetting to reload the rifle. Now there was no time. If he could just get to the trees, there might be a chance. Two or three more steps... The cat stopped suddenly, crouching on its powerful hindquarters. Shannon froze. One spring and it would be on him.
 
3     Just as he brought his rifle up to use as a club, the cat's head swung left. Then, with a great leap, it turned and was gone. Shannon stood for a moment, puzzled. Then he faded into the trees at his back. Something had startled the panther. That something would be coming into the clearing any second.
 
4     Quickly he poured powder down the rifle barrel. Fumbling with the ramrod, he managed to stuff a ball down after the powder. There. Now he was ready. But for what?
 
5     Just then, the brush parted. Two copper-skinned men stopped there on the edge of the trees. Shannon just glimpsed their faces and buckskin clothing. Then they vanished back into the thicket. Their faces had been painted with white and red streaks.

Paragraphs 6 to 14:
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