330 THE PANTHER AND THE HUNTER. 



These strange events had succeeded each other with 

 such rapidity, that I was literally stunned. I could not 

 collect my thoughts. Was I not the sport of a dream ? 

 No ; I recollected that I was three hundred miles beyond 

 the limits of the furthest civilization, planted on a tree, 

 without a horse, without a friend, in the midst of a silence 

 which, apparently, had never before been disturbed by 

 man. Was I not rather in an enchanted region ? For a 



o 



moment I was troubled with strange visions ; then my 

 thoughts gradually grew calmer ; I hoped that my com- 

 panions would remember and come in quest of me. I 

 abandoned the wicked ideas of suicide which for a 

 moment had taken possession of my brain; and, resolved 

 to provide for the natural wants, I set myself to work to 

 cut up the dead bear, and carry off the portions which 

 were suitable for food. 



While engaged in this useful occupation, a roar at- 

 tracted my attention. 



I looked all around, and in an oak near at hand 

 detected a movement of the leaves which seemed to in- 

 dicate the presence of a living being. Between a couple 

 of branches a round head was suddenly presented ; it was 

 that of a panther. On this terrible animal I fixed my 

 gaze in affright. Yet the panther did not appear to 

 perceive me, for his eyes, which I could see rolling from 

 one side to another, did not wear a very ferocious ex- 

 pression ; on the contrary, the calmness of his physi- 

 ognomy almost invited me to make his acquaintance. 

 I soon became satisfied that he had not noticed me, for 

 I saw him stretching his limbs with lazy indifference, 

 and yawning with sleepiness or fatigue. Yet I was not 

 the less terrified by the monster's appearance. I re- 



