American Lion, and Deer-Hunting. 105 



myself, spoke of hunting and fishing, until at length tired, we 

 laid ourselves down on pallets of bear skins, and reposed in 

 peace on the floor of the only apartment of which the hut con- 

 sisted. 



Day dawned, and the squatter's call to his hogs, which, being 

 almost in a wild state, were suffered to seek the greater portion 

 of their food in the woods, awakened me. Being ready dressed, 

 I was not long in joining him. The hogs and their young came 

 grunting at the well-known call of their owner, who threw them 

 a i'&vf ears of corn, and counted them, but told me that 

 for some weeks their number had been greatly diminished 

 by the ravages committed upon them by a large panther, 

 by which name tlie cougar is designated in America, and 

 that the ravenous animal did not content himself with the 

 flesh of his pigs, but now and then carried off one of his 

 calves, notwithstanding the many attempts he had made to shoot 

 It. The painter, as he sometimes called it, had on several oc- 

 casions robbed him of a dead deer, and to these exploits the 

 squatter added several remarkable feats of audacity which it had 

 performed, to give me an idea of the formidable character of 

 the beast. Delighted by his description, I offered to assist him 

 in destroying the enemy, at which he was highly pleased, but 

 assured me, that unless some of his neighbours should assist us 

 with their dogs and his own, the attempt would prove fruitless. 

 Soon after, mounting a horse, he went off to his neighbours, 

 several of whom lived at a distance of some miles, and appoint- 

 ed a day of meeting. 



The hunters accordingly made their appearance one fine 

 morning at the door of the cabin, just as the sun was emerging 

 from beneath the horizon. They were five in number, and 

 fully equipped for the chase, being mounted on horses, which 

 in some parts of Europe might appear sorry nags, but which in 

 strength, speed, and bottom, are better fitted for pursuino- a 

 cougar or a bear through woods and morasses than any in that 

 country. A pack of large ugly curs were already engaged in 

 making acquaintance with those of the squatter. He and my- 

 self mounted his two best horses, whilst his sons were bestriding 

 others of inferior quahty. 



Few words were uttered by the party till we had reached the 



