AN UNPLEASANT NOCTURNAL VISITOR. 97 



could possibly be imagined. I was on foot by daybreak, 

 and by ten o'clock I had three deer hanging to the trees. 

 My last night's repose having been broken by the storm, 

 and yesterday's and to-day's exertions having fatigued 

 me very much, I threw myself under a tree, and enjoyed 

 a delightful nap. The sun was near the horizon when I 

 awoke, and there was hardly time for me to return to 

 camp and collect wood before dark, for the night threat- 

 ened to be very cold : but it was bright starlight, and my 

 blanket was dry, so I rolled myself comfortably in its 

 folds. 



I lay awake till past midnight, giving the reins to my 

 imagination ; and when I fell asleep I dreamed of stretched 

 deerskins, and that Bearsgrease was chasing an immense 

 buck, when his loud barking and howling awoke me. I 

 patted him to keep him quiet, and found his hair all brist- 

 ling up. I thought wolves must be near us ; and listen- 

 ing attentively, I heard the cautious tread of some heavy 

 beast over the dry frosty leaves. 



I laid some dry fir branches, which were near me, on 

 the fire, to make it burn up bright, and placed myself 

 between it and the noise of the footsteps, in order to dis- 

 tinguish the eyes of my untimely visitor, and shoot him. 

 Three times I caught sight of two glowing balls, and from 

 their rapid disappearance I was convinced that I had to 

 do with a panther. He went round and round the fire 

 several times, but never close enough for me to distin- 

 guish his form ; and I passed half an hour with my rifle 

 at my cheek, in the greatest anxiety, the dog pressing 

 close to my side, with all his nerves on the stretch, fol- 

 7 



