16 PIONEER LIFE ; OR, 



they discovered to their horror that it was a panther. 

 They retreated into the house and closed the doors. 

 Three geese which belonged to the family were on 

 the ice of the river ; the panther discovered them, 

 and having captured one, he returned with it to his 

 den among the rocks. After he had been gone some 

 time, they went out together and procured wood and 

 water enough to supply them until the next day. 

 The following morning at about the same hour, the 

 panther returned, uttering the same terrific cries, 

 and carried away another of the geese. On the 

 third morning he again made his appearance and 

 took the remaining goose. He had now become 

 wonted to the vicinity, and the terrified women were 

 at a loss what they conld do. Their nearest neigh- 

 bors were distant two miles in one direction, and 

 three in the other, and any attempt to procure succor 

 from that source would expose them to an attack 

 from the animal which was prowling near. In order 

 to prevent the panther from entering by the chim- 

 ney, they covered it over witli boards taken from the 

 floor, and kept up a fire all night. The next morn- 

 ing, when the too familiar cries of their besieger 

 were heard, they turned out the dog. The panther 

 closed in with him, drove him against the door, and 

 after a short struggle killed and carried him off. 

 The morning following, Eice Hamlin, who lived 

 about three miles distant, and who had been en- 

 gaged to call on them once a week, to supply them 

 with fire-wood and render any necessary assistance, 

 paid them his customary visit. When he knocked 



