THE PANTHEK. 89 



who entered last was safe and sonnd, but tlie other 

 one had been dangerously wounded by the panther. 

 Under the orders of Mr. Pendleton, the niggers 

 cleared the mouth of the cave of all the wood and 

 foliage which obstructed it, and Mr. Kudolf Pendle- 

 ton entered the cave alone. There was a moment 

 of silence, for even the hounds seemed to under- 

 stand that they were to keep quiet. After about a 

 couple of minutes, the young man returned from his 

 dangerous expedition. He had seen two panthers 

 instead of one. One was crouching down at the 

 further end of the cave, and the other had mounted 

 on a ledge of rock to the left. 



It was arranged that Mr. Rudolf should go in first, 

 rifle in hand, and that his brother Harry should 

 follow with a spare weapon ready to hand to him in 

 case the first shot did not kill the first panther. 

 IVIr. Charles Pendleton and myself stood in readi- 

 ness, whilst the niggers held the hounds in leash. 

 There was a moment of intense expectation, and 

 then an explosion, as if a mine had been fired close 

 to us ; then the two Pendletons appeared, one cariy- 

 ing his brother's gun, and the other dragging by the 

 tail an enormous panther, measuring at least five 

 feet from nose to tail. 



Whilst we were examining this splendid panther, 

 two of the dogs slipped their leashes and rushed 

 into the cave, where they set at once upon the other 

 animal perched upon the ledge. Fortunately for 



