128 THE PUMA, OR AMERICAN LION. 



danger, when it is followed singly with the rifle; 

 but the following incident will shew that these en- 

 counters are sometimes fatal, and that the smart of a 

 wound may occasionally rouse the courage of the most 

 dastardly animal. It is probable that the shot fired 

 by the hunter's companion had slightly wounded the 

 puma. " Two hunters went out in quest of game 

 on the Katskils Mountains, in the province of New 

 York, each armed with a gun, and accompanied by 

 his dog. It was agreed between them, that they 

 should go in contrary directions round the base of 

 the hill, and that if either discharged his piece, the 

 other should cross the hill as expeditiously as pos- 

 sible, to join his companion in pursuit of the game 

 shot at. Shortly after separating, one heard the 

 other fire, and, agreeably to their compact, hastened 

 to his comrade. After searching for him for some 

 time without effect, he found his dog dead and dread- 

 fully torn. Apprised by this discovery that the ani- 

 mal shot at was large and ferocious, he became 

 anxious for the fate of his friend, and assiduously 

 continued the search for him ; when his eyes were 

 suddenly directed, by the deep growl of a puma, to 

 the large branch of a tree, where he saw the animal 

 couching on the body of the man, and directing his 

 eyes towards him, apparently hesitating whether to 

 descend and make a fresh attack on the survivor, or 

 to relinquish its prey, and take to flight. Conscious 

 that much depended on celerity, the hunter dis- 



