238 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



for some weeks their number had been greatly diminished 

 by the ravages committed upon them by a large Panther, 

 by which name the Cougar is designated in America, 

 and that the ravenous animal did not content himself 

 with the flesh of his pigs, but now and then carried off 

 one of his calves, notwithstanding the many attempts 

 he had made to shoot it. The Painter, as he sometimes 

 called it, had on several occasions robbed him of a dead 

 deer; and to thiese exploits the squatter added several 

 remarkable feats of audacity which it had performed, to 

 give me an idea of the formidable character of the beast. 

 Delighted by his description, I offered to assist him in 

 destroying the enemy, at which he was highly pleased, 

 but assured me that unless some of his neighbors should 

 join us with their dogs and his own, the attempt would 

 prove fruitless. Soon after, mounting a horse, he went 

 off to his neighbors, several of whom lived at a distance 

 of some miles, and appointed a day of meeting. 



The hunters, accordingly, made their appearance, one 

 fine morning, at the door of the cabin, just as the sun 

 was emerging from beneath the horizon. They were five 

 in number, and fully equipped for the chase, being 

 mounted on horses, which in some parts of Europe might 

 appear sorry nags, but which in strength, speed, and bot- 

 tom, are better fitted for pursuing a cougar or a bear 

 through woods and morasses than any in that country. 

 A pack of large ugly curs we* e already engaged in mak- 

 ing acquaintance with those of the squatter. He and 

 myself mounted his two best horses, whilst his sons 'were 

 bestriding others of inferior quality. 



Few words were uttered by the party until we had 



