HUNTING IN MAINE. 295 



the log, which he did not even brush with his belly as he 

 passed over it. From the nature of the track, I knew he did 

 not jump. His legs could not have been less than thfle feet 

 in length. After this discovery, I made my way to where 

 the rest of the crew were at work with right good will. A 

 similar track, of probably this same animal, has been seen by 

 fnany different persons and parties, at places quite remote 

 from each other, for several winters ; but no one, that I am 

 aware of, is satisfied that he has yet been seen, unless, indeed, 

 by two or three lads while on the shore of the Grand Lake, 

 who were fishing out of holes cut in the ice near the shore. 

 About half a mile from them a long point made out into the 

 lake, running parallel with the shore, which formed the 

 boundary of a deep cove. The ice had become quite weak ; 

 still, it bore them with safety. While busily engaged with 

 their fishing-tackle, their attention was arrested by a loud, 

 splashing noise, as though some one was struggling in the 

 water ; and, on looking for the cause, they saw a large ani- 

 mal endeavoring to make the main land, crossing directly 

 from the point toward them. He continued to break in every 

 few rods, when he would spring out again with the agility of 

 a cat. After getting out, he would stand and look round, 

 then venture forward, and break through as before. The 

 description they gave of his appearance was that he looked 

 like an immense cat ; appeared to be about four feet high, 

 and five or six feet long, thick set about the head and shoulders, 

 resembling somewhat in this particular the bull-dog. His 

 tail was very long, reaching down quite to the ice, and curled 

 up at the end ; this he moved about just as a cat moves its 

 tail. Waiting but a moment to gain this general view, they 

 made for home with all possible dispatch, about one mile dis- 

 tant. Several men, with guns and axes, immediately started 

 for the lake, but nothing further was seen of him. The 

 manner in which the ice was broken fully confirmed the 



