122 IX A FLORIDA FOREST. 



While we were examining him the dogs broke from their 

 leash, and two of them, darting anew into the cavern, 

 engaged in a deadly combat with the second panther, 

 which had kept to his rocky ledge. Fortunately for our 

 clogs, the brute trembled with terror, and durst not defend 

 himself; so that they strangled him easily. When this 

 subterranean battle was over, Adonis entered the grotto 

 in his turn, and brought back into the light of day a young 

 panther, whom he flung by the side of his mother. Both 

 were dead. 



I shall terminate this chapter with an episode from an 

 exploring expedition which I undertook, some years ago, 

 in the forests of Florida. 



It was a frosty morning, and an American friend and 

 myself were hunting on the river St. John, at about 

 sixteen miles from St. Augustine. Our three dogs had 

 pursued a panther, who, to avoid them, had leaped into 

 the river, as if to swim across to an island which lay about 

 a gunshot from the shore. All at once the animal re- 

 turned, seized by the head the nearest dog, and dragging 

 him under the water, succeeded in suffocating him. Our 

 remaining dogs discerned the danger, and returned to our 

 side. 



The panther reached the opposite bank. We watched its 

 movements in sore disappointment, for we knew the im- 

 possibility of crossing the river in pursuit. On issuing 

 from the water, he leaped upon a rock overhanging the 

 current, clambered along a tree, and crouched upon a 

 branch exposed to the sun, as if to dry its magnificent 

 fur. 



