WATCHFIRE AND WOUNDS. 177 



without beating hearts. We moved silently and can 

 tiously on, holding the torches well before us, so as not 

 to be so agreeably surprised a second time. "We reco- 

 vered our rifles without seeing the enemy. I held both 

 the torches while Conwell loaded his rifle, and then gave 

 them to him while I loaded mine, and having our faith- 

 ful weapons once more in our hands, we stepped forward 

 again still slowly and silently, but with lighter hearts. 

 "There!" suddenly called out C., holding his torch 

 aloft, and staring before him. It was the first word 

 spoken since we re-entered the cave. The panther lay 

 stretched on the ground, no longer dangerous, for the 

 last convulsions were over. We skinned him and cut 

 him up ; all the balls had taken effect, and both our 

 knives had pierced his body, so that it was only in his 

 death-struggle that he sprang upon us. We took the 

 skin, although it almost looked like a sieve, and returned 

 to our fire. 



It was night by the time we came out of the . cave, 

 and, with hungry stomachs, lay all four by the fire ; for 

 neither we nor the dogs had any fancy to eat the panther. 

 Conwell suffered very much from his wound, but towards 

 morning he fell into a tolerably quiet sleep. We moved 

 off with the first gleam of day to the place where I had 

 hung up the buck, breakfasted there, and started for 

 fresh game. 



Meantime it had become warmer. The snow had dis- 

 appeared, but all the game seemed to have gone on their 

 travels ; for although we saw signs enough, not a shot 

 could we get. In the night we were awakened by a thin 



cold rain, and having no mind to get wet through, we 

 12 



