PEUILS OF AN HUNTER. 



was his astonishment when he saw the animal pass 

 disdainfully over the carcass with the apparent in- 

 tention of giving him chase. The danger was 

 urgent, for the rifle of the hunter could be of little 

 use, and it was not desirable to await his coming. 

 He sought safety, therefore, by springing up one of 

 the rocky ledges, and clambering over its ragged 

 points to the height of about eighteen feet, to where 

 a small chasm afforded a resting-place of compara- 

 tive security. But the Puma thought otherwise. 

 He advanced boldly beneath the ledge, then falling 

 back, as if to reconnoitre the position, he seated 

 himself for a few moments and eyed his victim^ 

 with a front indicative of no pacific or compromis- 

 ing purpose. Convinced that not a moment was 

 to be lost, the hunter now raised his rifle, but it 

 trembled in his hand, like the leaves of the wild 

 poplar tree. Many a ferocious creature had fallen 

 before that rifle, but now, for the first time, the 

 master rested it upon the point of the projecting 

 rock, and bent his body so as to enable him to bring 

 his eye to the level of the gun. Deliberately did 

 he then take aim at a small bright spot of fur on 

 the fierce creature's breast, and instantly drew the 

 fatal trigger. In a moment the ball entered, and 

 the death-stricken animal made a tremendous spring 

 towards the ledge. He struck the rock two or three 

 yards below the hunter, and uttered a cry so grievous 

 and appalling, that years elapsed before that fearful 

 cry ceased to haunt him at intervals. But the 

 Puma's strength soon ebbed; he fell heavily back, 

 drawing in his breath with such force that the blood 

 reverted to his heart with a loud gurgling noise. 



