362 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



when I looked up, I was surprised to find that the sun was 

 setting. But I had no longer to complain of the stillness. 

 This was the signal for the voices of the wilderness to break 

 forth. 



A long, screeching cry, that seemed right at my ear, made 

 my blood curdle. I looked around. The limbs of a live oak, 

 near, were rustling and swaying, as under some great weight. 

 The head of a panther peered out from between two bunches 

 of moss. We looked at each other very coolly. He stretched 

 his white throat from the covert, turned up his nose and 

 snuffed towards me. He smelt the blood. His eyes were 

 very large and gleaming, but he looked innocent enough ; 

 his face seemed so good-natured and familiar, that I .felt for 

 the moment we must be old acquaintances, that I ought to 

 offer to take his paw. There's no harm in him ! 



He stretched his jaws to scream again, and I saw his 

 long, white fangs : the cat tribe are well furnished about the 

 jaws. But, horror ! his cry has a dozen echoes all around, 

 far away and near. What a caterwauling ! God of heaven ! 

 it is said they like man's meat the best ! Oh ! but these are 

 simple boors, uncon'taminated by luxurious tastes. They 

 won't know any better, unless they have hea*rd the tradition. 

 But, then, it is something of a risk if they haven't. What 

 shall I do ? Shoot that meek-looking panther in the eyes ? 

 Dead panthers tell no tales ! 



No, the Indians will hear the gun, and I shall have them 

 swarming through the ridges, to-morrow, sky-larking. That 

 won't do. What then ? Why, I'll climb to the top of this 

 live oak, so that these nimble gentry can't get above me, 

 unless they jump out of the moon; and I'll tie myself up 

 there, and swing about 'till morning. So long as I'm above 

 'em, I'm safe, for I can see their eyes as they come up, and 

 rake down the limb. 



This conclusion was forthwith acted upon. I didn't like 

 that panther to stand there watching me, though, for he 



