162 A WILD-CAT HUNT IN CAROLINA. 



along before us, or a rabbit that imprudently broke 

 cover, till at last we reached a gall, the thickest 

 and most impenetrable to be found in all that region, 

 and which, it was easy to perceive, must furnish a 

 favorite lurking place for a cat. We struck it at 

 the head, where it branched out into woody and 

 briery ponds ; and thence curved away, till, at the 

 distance of three-quarters of a mile, it made its 

 outlet into Port lioyal River. The dogs had not 

 long crept into its penetralia, before they gave 

 forth their inspiring notes, and we were soon on 

 the alert, lifting ourselves in our stirrups, to spy 

 out, if it were possible, the object of pursuit. But 

 the thicket spread around them with the density of 

 a wall, and nothing could be seen ! Again and 

 again, they went circling round, close to where we 

 stood ; but it was as impracticable to approach as 

 to see. Quicksand underneath, quagmire at the 

 surface, briers above (wherever their places were 

 not preoccupied by bay-trees, that, for want of 

 elbow room, had grown up as straight as canes, and 

 almost as close), this ground would have foiled the 

 boldest moss trooper that ever pricked his steed 

 across the moors of Cumberland. At last the 

 dogs came to a halt ! and we knew by their quick, 

 open note, that they had the chase at bay. It was 

 at this moment that Dash, espying something in 



