173 MAMMALIA— COUGAR. 



expressed his apprehensions to a single fellow-traveller, who was also un* 

 provided with arms. In consequence, they resolved not to go to the camp- 

 ing ground, but to pass the night in the woods without fire ; there, turning 

 their horses loose, they lay down in their blankets on the leaves. I:, the 

 night they were aroused by hearing the horses snort, as they are apt to do 

 on the approach of Indians, and shortly after they were heard to make 

 several bounds through the woods, as if some one had unsuccessfully 

 attempted to catch them. After some time had elapsed, they both distinctly 

 heard, what they supposed to be, a man crawling towards them on his 

 hands and feet, as they could hear first one hand cautiously extended and 

 pressed very gently on the leaves, to avoid making a noise, then the other, 

 and finally the other limbs in like manner and with equal care. When they 

 believed that this felonious visitor was within about ten feet of them, they 

 touched each other, sprang up simultaneously, and rushed to some distance 

 through the woods, where they crouched and remained without further dis- 

 turbance. A short time after, they heard the horses snorting and bounding 

 furiously through the woods, but they did not venture to arise until broad 

 daylight, being still ignorant of the character of their enemy. 



"When sufficiently light to see, by climbing a sapling, they discovered 

 the horses at a considerable distance on the prairie. On approaching them, 

 it was at once evident that their disturber had been nothing less than a 

 cougar. It had sprung upon the horses, and so lacerated with its claws 

 and teeth their flanks and buttocks, that with the greatest difficulty were 

 they able to drive the poor creatures before them to Shane's. Several other 

 instances of annoyance to travellers had happened at the same place, and 

 Shane believed by the same cougar." 



