A HUNT WITH A SQUATTER 165 



succeed in shooting him when thus situated, we might 

 expect a long chase of it. 



" As we approached the spot we all by degrees united 

 into a body, but on seeing the dogs at the foot of a large 

 tree, separated again, and galloped off to surround it. 

 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 toward 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 monster, 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 toward the center 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 that the cougar, 

 being wounded, would shortly ascend another tree, where 

 in all probability he would remain for a considerable time, 



