240 HUNTING SPORTS OP THE WEST. 



Each hunter now moved with caution, holding his gun 

 ready, and allowing the bridle to dangle on the neck of 

 his horse, as it advanced slowly towards the dogs. A 

 shot from one of the party was heard, on which the 

 Cougar was seen to leap to the ground, and bound off 

 with such velocity as to show that he was very unwilling 

 to stand our fire longer. The dogs set off in pursuit with 

 great eagerness and a deafening cry. The hunter who 

 had fired came up and said that his ball had hit the mon- 

 ster, and had probably broken one of his fore-legs near 

 the shoulder, the only place at which he could aim. A 

 slight trail of blood was discovered on the ground, but 

 the curs proceeded at such a rate that we merely noticed 

 this, and put spurs to our horses, which galloped on to- 

 wards the centre of the Swamp. One bayou was crossed, 

 then another still larger and more muddy ; but the dogs 

 were brushing forward, and as the horses began to pant 

 at a furious rate, we judged it expedient to leave them 

 and advance on foot. These determined hunters knew 

 th^t the Cougar being wounded, would shortly ascend 

 another tree, where in all probability he would remain 

 for a considerable time, and that it would be easy to fol- 

 low the track of the dogs. We dismounted, took off the 

 saddles and bridles, set the bells attached to the horses' 

 necks at liberty to jingle, hoppled the animals, and left 

 them to shift for themselves. 



Now, reader, follow the group marching through the 

 swamp, crossing muddy pools, and making the best of 

 their way over fallen trees and amongst the tangled rushes 

 that now and then covered acres of ground. If you are 

 a hunter yourself, all this will appear nothing to you; but 



