422 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



where in all probability he would remain for a considerable 

 time, and that it would be easy to follow the track of the 

 dogs. We dismounted, took off the saddles and bridles, set 

 the bells attached to the horses' necks at liberty to jingle, 

 hoppled the animals, and left them to shift for themselves. 



Now, kind reader, follow the group marching through the 

 swamp, crossing muddy pools, and making the best of their 

 way over fallen trees and amongst the tangled rushes that 

 now and then covered acres of ground. If you are a hunter 

 yourself, all this will appear nothing to you ; but if crowded 

 assemblies of " beauty and fashion," or the quiet enjoyment 

 of your "pleasure-grounds," alone delight you, I must mend 

 my pen before I attempt to give you an idea of the pleasure 

 felt on such an expedition. 



After marching for a couple of hours, we again heard the 

 dogs. Each of us pressed forward, elated at the thought 

 of terminating the career of the cougar. Some of the dogs 

 were heard whining, although the greater number barked 

 vehemently. We felt assured that the Cougar was treed, 

 and that he would rest for some time to recover from his 

 fatigue. As we came up to the dogs, we discovered the 

 ferocious animal lying across a large branch, close to the 

 trunk of a cotton-wood tree. His broad breast lay towards 

 us ; his eyes were at one time bent on us and again on the 

 dogs beneath and around him ; one of his fore legs hung 

 loosely by his side, and he lay crouched, with his ears 

 lowered close to his head, as if he thought he might remain 

 undiscovered. Three balls were fired at him, at a given 

 signal, on which he sprang a few feet from the branch, and 

 tumbled headlong to the ground. Attacked on all sides by 

 the enraged curs, the infuriated Cougar fought with desperate 

 valor ; but the squatter advancing in front of the party, and 

 almost in the midst of the dogs, shot him immediately behind 

 and beneath the left shoulder. The Cougar writhed for a 

 moment in agony, and in another lay dead. 



