THE PANTHER. 85 



v/e distributed the carcases among the dogs, and set 

 out joyously for Grammercy Land House, the 

 habitation of a wealthy agriculturist, our intimate 

 friend. On the way thither, close to the confines of 

 the forest and near to a small lagoon formed by the 

 branch of a small lake, our dogs came uj^on another 

 scent. AYas it a panther, a raccoon, or a deer ? No 

 one knew, but certainly we none of us expected to 

 be made three-tailed pachas that afternoon. "We 

 were quite satisfied with the two panthers' tails we 

 had won, when suddenly we saw a splendid panther 

 jump from a tuft not twenty yards distant on to a 

 birch, whence he seemed to defy our approach and 

 that of our dogs. Another broadside of the three 

 guns, and the animal, uttering frightful screams, 

 rolled over upon the ground. — It was a fine dog 

 panther in splendid condition, and measured five 

 feet and a half long. So we were three-tailed pachas 

 after all. 



During the last adventure, night had come on, 

 and when we looked for our road, we could not find 

 it. Dense and prickly cane-brakes were all around 

 us, and Ave had no Ariadne's clue to guide us out of 

 the labyrinth. At last, however, the moon rose, and 

 we struck off at a north-easterly direction to find 

 Grammercy Land House. It was quite ten o'clock 

 when our weary horses deposited us in the verandah 

 of the farm. A good fire, a capital supper, and some 

 charming companions, were waiting for us, and we 



