164 IN THE DAYS OF AUDTJBON 



" Few words were uttered by the party until we had 

 reached the edge of the swamp, where it was agreed that 

 all should disperse, and seek for the fresh track of the 

 ' painter/ it being previously settled that the discoverer 

 should blow his horn, and remain on the spot until the 

 rest should join him. In less than an hour the sound 

 of the horn was clearly heard, and, sticking close to the 

 squatter, off we went through the thick woods, guided 

 only by the now-and-then repeated call of the distant 

 huntsman. 



" We soon reached the spot, and in a short time the 

 rest of the party came up. The best dog was sent forward 

 to track the cougar, and in few moments the whole pack 

 was observed diligently trailing and bearing in their course 

 for the interior of the swamp. The rifles were immedi- 

 ately put in trim, and the party followed the dogs at sepa- 

 rate distances, but in sight of each other, determined to 

 shoot at no other game than the panther. 



" The dogs soon began to mouth, and suddenly quick- 

 ened their pace. My companions concluded that the beast 

 was on the ground, and putting our horses to a gentle 

 gallop, we followed the curs, guided by their voices. The 

 noise of the dogs increased, when all of a sudden their mode 

 of barking became altered, and the squatter, urging me to 

 push on, told me that the beast was treed, by which he 

 meant that it had got upon some low branch of a large 

 tree to rest for a few moments, and that, should we not 



