PERILS OF AN HUNTER. 77 



his dog, which had sat down in playful mood, and 

 was pulling a tuft of grass heside him, hegan to utter 

 a whining howl, and hastily retreated to his master's 

 side, with his eyes directed to the foliage of a 

 branching oak, immediately in front. The master 

 also looked, and saw the frightful visage of an 

 enormous Puma, as he cunningly crept towards the 

 end of a near branch, with the evident design of 

 springing upon his intended victim. It was a solemn 

 moment. The thought of home and family rushed 

 upon the hunter's mind, yet there seemed little 

 probability of escape. To fly was impossible, to 

 remain still was equally dangerous; for the glaring 

 eye-balls of the savage creature were fixed upon 

 him, regardless of the answering look of the stern 

 wolf-dog, as he moved slowly and cautiously along 

 the extended branch, uttering through his slightly 

 opened mouth a low hissing sound, which resembled 

 the signal cry of the deadly rattle-snake. This was 

 the moment of attack; but scarcely had he pre- 

 pared to dart, when the branch gave way, and down 

 he fell with a mingled howl of rage and disappoint- 

 ment that might have been heard for miles, through 

 the silence of the forest. The wolf-dog, though in 

 general a bold and fearless creature, was too much 

 daunted to avail himself of the momentary advan- 

 tage; and the Puma, recovering with a bound, 

 darted fiercely up the tree again, making the very 

 branches of the innumerable forest-trees tremble 

 with his loud and terrific cries. Suddenly turning 

 round, he swiftly advanced along a limb of the 

 stately oak on the side nearest to his intended prey, 

 glaring down upon him with a look of increased 



