1GO WILD SPOUTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



three hours, for the first gleam of approaching day 

 was lighting up the eastern sky, when I was awakened 

 by the loud, angry bark of the dog. I jumped up, rifle 

 in hand, but could see nothing and hear nothing: I 

 cheered on the dog, but in vain : he would not move 

 from my side, and only barked louder and louder. I 

 fancied he might have scented wolves, and was about 

 to lie down again, when I distinctly heard a rustling 

 in the bush, although there was not a breath of wind. 

 I approached the place cautiously with both barrels 

 cocked, but could discover nothing ; and as it was still 

 dark, and no trail perceptible, I ^xnild do no more, so 

 lay down again for another short sleep, when I sud- 

 denly heard the short piercing roar of a panther, which 

 those who have once heard never forget. My dog an- 

 swered it with a slight whimper, and crept closer to 

 my side. I now knew the character of my nightly 

 visitor ; and tolerably sure that, once frightened away, 

 he would be in no hurry to return, I was soon asleep, 

 and remained so till awakened by the cold air which 

 always precedes the rising sun. 



As beautiful a panorama as I had ever beheld lay 

 spread out before me. A sea of forest as far as the 

 eye could reach, in every shade of color, from the 

 darkest green to light blue the Little Red river 

 winding through the midst of it, while a light downy 

 mist hung about the tips of the trees on its banks. To 

 the west and south-west, the distant mountains cut 

 sharply in a mass of blue against the lighter morning 

 sky. Hills overgrown with pines rose above the 

 darker extent of oak, like islands floating in a deep 

 green sea, as the sun's rays were reflected from the 



