26 GAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



The last wild-cat I saw (187fi) was met with most un- 

 expectedly. For weeks I had been watching the move- 

 ments of a family of ground-squirrels, or " hackees," n.- \v<> 

 call them, racing to and fro along the garden-fence. I 

 had followed them up persistently, and once I had dugout 

 one of their subterranean homes. The family history of 

 those ground-squirrels I had well-nigh unraveled, and 

 was disposed to worry them no more. Late one pleasant 

 autumn afternoon, while lying, half concealed, in a mat 

 of long grass, watching the few ground-squirrels that 

 were scampering about, I noticed that suddenly a great 

 fear overcame them. They ran to and fro, with no 

 apparent object, and kept up an incessant squeal-like 

 bark. Turning in every direction to see the cause of 

 this sudden commotion, I at last discovered, crouching on 

 the trunk of a lately-hewed chestnut-tree, a fierce wild- 

 cat, that looked as though it would kill all the squirrels 

 by its angry glances. I have never seen at any time so 

 thoroughly devilish a countenance on any animal as in 

 this case. In the murderous jaws of the cat was a squir- 

 rel. I remained perfectly still, having the animal in full 

 view. Presently it let the captured squirrel fall, and, 

 placing one fore-paw upon it, the cat gave a long, low 

 growl, very unlike any sound made by the domestic cat. 

 It was repeated at short intervals, and not being responded 

 to, so far as I could detect, the animal again caught up 

 the dead squirrel and bounded into the thickets. I fol- 

 lowed cautiously but rapidly, and soon found the animal 

 again. It was now crouching at the foot of an enormous 

 oak, and with much snarling and low mutterings was de- 

 vouring the squirrel. This accomplished, the cat curled 

 it-olf up in a little patch of sunshine to take a nap. I 

 cautiously withdrew ; but on my return soon after with 

 a gun, I found the cat had left for parts unknown. 



