A PANTHER VISIT TO IIILGKR. 101 



dewy leaves. Light vapor rising here and there from 

 the valleys, curling over the forest, and vanishing into 

 air, revealed the site of human habitations hidden in 

 the woods. I sat long, lost in contemplation of the 

 lovely scene, and again the question pressed itself upon 

 me " Why must I enjoy it alone ? " Then I remem- 

 bered my visitor of the past night, and, shaking off all 

 mournful thoughts, looked out for the trail ; and there, 

 hardly twenty paces from my bivouac, were the marks 

 of the large round paws of the beast impressed in the 

 loose sand. He had probably tried to creep up to me 

 without being discovered, but the dog had spoiled his 

 sport. 



Refreshed by sleep, I hastened down the hill, found 

 a canoe, which took me over the river, and soon the 

 well-known friendly abode of the Rhenish-Bavarian 

 shone invitingly before me. It seemed almost as if it 

 was my home, from which I had been long, long absent, 

 and that all its dear inmates would rush joyfully for- 

 ward to embrace, me. Alas for our dreams ! 



Ililgcr and his wife welcomed me with a hearty 

 shake of the hand. I soon felt myself at home and 

 happy with these kind people, and I was not a little 

 delighted with the breakfast, which quickly adorned 

 the table, and which did not taste amiss after my long 

 fast. 



Ililger had made vast improvements in his condition 

 since I was here two years ago. He had bought the land, 

 had a pair of horses, several head of cattle; and pigs, and 

 lived happy and independent in the circle of his familv, 

 which, in the mean time had been increased by the 

 birth of a little prince. His two sons, of lifteen and 

 14* 



