112 Lloyd's natural history. 



the ground ; and putting our Horses to a gentle gallop, we 

 followed the curs, guided by their voices. The noise of the 

 Dogs increased, when, all of a sudden, their mode of barking 

 became altered, and the squatter, urging me to push on, told 

 me that the beast was treed, by which he meant that it had 

 got upon some low branch of a large tree, to rest for a few 

 moments, and that should we not succeed in shooting him 

 when thus situated, we might expect a long chase of it. As 

 we approached the spot, we all by degrees united into a body ; 

 but on seeing the Dogs at the foot of a large tree, separated 

 again, and galloped off to surround it. 



" Each hunter now moved with caution, holding his gun 

 ready, and allowing the bridle to dangle on the neck of his 

 Horse, as it advanced slowly towards the Dogs. A shot from 

 one of the party was heard, on which the Cougar was seen to 

 leap to the ground, and bound off with such velocity, as to 

 show that he was very unwilling to stand our fire longer. The 

 Dogs set off in pursuit with great eagerness, and a deafening 

 cry. The hunter who had fired came up, and said that his 

 ball had hit the monster, and had probably broken one of his 

 fore-legs, near the shoulder, the only place at which he could 

 aim. A slight trail of blood was discovered on the ground ; 

 but the curs proceeded at such a rate, that we merely noticed 

 this, and put spurs to our Horses, which galloped on towards 

 the centre of the swamp. One bayou was crossed, then 

 another still larger and more muddy ; but the Dogs were 

 brushing forward, and, as the Horses began to pant at a furious 

 rate, we judged it expedient to leave them, and advance on 

 foot. These determined hunters knew that the Cougar, being 

 wounded, would shortly ascend another tree, where, in all 

 probability, he would remain for a considerable time, and 

 that it would be easy to follow the track of the Dogs. We 

 dismounted, took off the saddles and bridles, set the bells 



