246 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



me. A third hit it on the nose, and the panther, 

 now fairly alarmed and evidently thinking that the 

 neighbourhood was getting dangerous, sprang off the 

 tree and went away growling. I saw it disappear up 

 the valley, and although I watched for its return as 

 long as it was daylight, I saw it no more. 



Having got rid of this uncomfortable neighbour, 

 I determined to descend and cut oif some of the 

 bear's meat, v.'hich I suspended from the branches 

 of the oak. I then remounted the tree and climbed 

 up so high that I could see all around, but nothing 

 was visible except the heavens and the stars which 

 were beginning to peep forth. I made my arrange- 

 ments to pass the night as comfortably as possible 

 under the circumstances, and stretched myself upon 

 a forked branch with a heap of moss for a pillow. 

 I even tried to sleep, but the hooting and flapping" 

 of some owls effectually prevented that. These 

 birds seemed as if they were determined to keep me 

 awake, for they never ceased flying round the tree, 

 beating the air with their wings, and uttering 

 mournful cries, their great staring eyes shining like 

 carbuncles in the darkness. 



When the moon reached its zenith, and its rays 

 fell directly upon me, the country assumed a new 

 aspect, and the valley, suddenly lit up, looked like a 

 broad silver ribbon between the two dark-looking 

 mountains which enclosed it. A herd of coyotes 

 soon appeared to give the scene a terrible animation. 



