THE PANTHER'S VICTIM 



shouting and firing the gun at intervals as we advanced, 

 on the chance that the panther might be scared and drop 

 the dog. The latter was apparently still alive, as we heard 

 it give one cry, and encouraged by this we quickened our 

 pace, but the panther was evidently travelling faster, for 

 though we held on for some time we seemed to get no 

 nearer, and were finally obliged to abandon the pursuit. 



The next morning at daybreak we took up the panther's 

 tracks, and eventually came upon the remains of my poor 

 old Rover, of which the greater portion had been devoured. 

 We beat the jungle several times, and that night I sat up 

 over what was left of the old dog, but the panther, possibly 

 scared by our pursuit, did not come back to his kill. 



Some months afterwards I happened to re-visit that 

 very spot and had the luck to shoot a huge panther, but 

 whether this was the same brute which had deprived me 

 of my dog it was naturally impossible to say, but I consoled 

 myself with the thought that in all probability it was. 



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