114 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



mangled and partly eaten ; but the other was 

 without a mark on it, and it was no doubt 

 the live animal that deterred the vultures 

 from finishing his defunct companion : from 

 the spot where the bullock had been killed, 

 to the top of the hill, could not have been 

 less than half a mile, but there was only the 

 trail of one panther; a large heavy foot- 

 mark ; and at the top of the hill two more 

 trails were found, evidently of the female and 

 cub, or " cachorro," as he is called. What 

 amazing strength the male must have exerted, 

 not only to have dragged the ox he had 

 killed up such a steep, but also the live one, 

 struggling, as the trail shewed, against his 

 savage leader ; he must have been half para- 

 lyzed by fear. 



The little dogs were then put on the scent, 

 and merrily they went away with it, though 

 the trail was visible on the sacate, but very 

 difficult to follow without dogs ; but at length, 

 after about an hour's fast walking and run- 

 ning, the party arrived at the foot of a sandy 

 mount, where the trail was so clear, and 

 other signs so fresh, as to leave no doubt the 

 depredators were close at hand. The little 

 dogs were kicked back into the covert, and 

 told to keep quiet ; the party then ascended 



