PANTHER AND DOGS. 85 



point, for we almost immediately came upon the 

 pugs of what appeared to be a family of either 

 panthers or leopards, which we were steadily fol- 

 lowing up, when suddenly a female panther, with 

 a short low growl, pounced upon the poor Puharee 

 dog, breaking his back with a blow from her 

 muscular paw, and carrying him off as a cat would 

 a mouse. At this moment my view of the trans- 

 action was partially obstructed by an intervening 

 bush; but getting a momentary glimpse, as she 

 bounded along, I gave her the contents of both 

 barrels, which tumbled her over, and made her 

 relinquish her prey, but did not prove mortal, for 

 in the twinkling of an eye she recovered her feet, 

 and sprang towards us, uttering a savage roar, 

 when the Poligars, who, on seeing the game, had 

 forcibly broken away from the man who held 

 them, dashed forward, and, scared by their sudden 

 appearance, she swerved, raised her head, and looked 

 round for a line of retreat; which action gave 

 Ponto a chance, and the gallant dog rushed in 

 and pinned her by the back sinew of the hind leg, 

 whilst at the same time Hassan and AH fastened 



