92 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



an end to tliis horrible struggle, if it had not been 

 for the danger of hitting the man as well as the 

 beast, and our guns were loaded with buck-shot. 

 At this moment the Carib plunged the blade of his 

 knife in the eye of the panther, who could neither 

 retreat nor advance, and could only express its rage 

 by loud and continued bowlings. In its vain efforts 

 it lost its balance and fell upon the bank. Our 

 four barrels seemed to be discharged all at once, 

 and after a brief struggle the panther lay stone- 

 dead. 



At the unexpected explosion, the Carib looked 

 over to where we were, raising a vigorous war- 

 whoop, which he intended at the same time as an 

 acknowledgment of aid and a cry of victor}''. He 

 slid down the tree with the agility of a cat, and 

 testified to his delight at the unexpected aid which 

 he had received by an improvised dance. "With 

 marvellous dexterity, he soon skinned the brute, 

 and the skin measured five feet three inches long, 

 from head to tail. The Eed Skin afterwards joined 

 us and accompanied us to St. Augustine, where 

 my companion, who was well acquainted with the 

 governor of the State, obtained for him a reward 

 for his skill and courage. This Carib turned out 

 after all to be no obscure Indian. He was well 

 known as Billy Bowlegs, the trapper, and is now 

 chief of the Caribs in the peninsula of Florida. 



