390 



PANTHER AND BISON. 



eyes shining, she sprang forward, roaring loudly, at each 

 leap drawing closer to the bison, which endeavoured to 

 limp out of so dangerous a neighbourhood. How admir- 

 able a spectacle for us hunters was presented by these two 

 noble heads, whose life was almost in our hands, and, at 

 all events, depended entirely upon our skill ! I was 

 about to fire upon the panther, when the carnivoixms 

 animal made a prodigious spring, and jumped upon the 



"HE MADE A PRODIGIOUS SPRING UPON THE BISON'S BACK." 



bison's back. Both rolled to the ground, the bison hugged 

 in so tight an embrace that he could not release himself 

 from his enemy's claws. The panther licked her blood- 

 stained lips, and drew tighter and tighter the living coil 

 which paralyzed the bison's strength. At length the 

 latter let his head fall back heavily on the ground, his 

 limbs grew stiff, and he remained motionless. 



