GLIMPSES OF WILD- CATS. 25 



subsequently tree, trap, and cat had floated thitherward 

 together. Being no longer afraid that it might run away 

 or swim off, I ventured to approach a little nearer. My 

 curiosity now centered in the turkey-buzzard, for appar- 

 ently there was nothing to prevent its flying away, and, 

 as it is a timid bird, I was indeed sorely puzzled. Going 

 yet a little nearer, I could just make out, in the uncertain 

 light, that a sheep was floating in the brush- wood, and 

 was partly upheld by it. On this the buzzard had 

 feasted, notwithstanding the proximity of the snarling 

 cat, and now it was so gorged that it could not fly, as the 

 bird must needs have a chance to take a little run and 

 jump before it can mount upward. Standing on a mat 

 of 'drifting brush- wood, this was impracticable, and. while 

 free in one sense, the bird was, for the time being, as 

 essentially a prisoner as the trapped wild-cat. 



Finding that I could not direct the floating mass to 

 the nearest dry land, in consequence of its bulk, I con- 

 cluded to remain conveniently near and see what might 

 happen. It soon, however, became too dark to distin- 

 guish either cat or buzzard, and I left them for a time 

 in statu quo. Some hours later, by bright moonlight, I 

 paddled to the spot again, but found the currents had 

 changed the position of the floating mass and its living 

 freight. The raft had lodged against a tree-top and be- 

 come firmly fixed, and the buzzard had been given a 

 chance. At all events, the bird was missing. Not so, 

 though, the cat. It was still on the log, but not stand- 

 ing up. Going closely to it, I found that it was sorely 

 wounded and both eyes were pecked out. There was 

 no doubt but that the buzzard had realized the cat's 

 helplessness, and, although gorged with savory mutton, 

 had attacked the poor creature " out of pure deviltry." I 

 ended the cat's misery by shooting it. 



