264 OF THE ANIMALS OF CHASE. 



search for it. Whereupon, I rode myself to the 

 spot, and found that the deer had been dragged ofi' ; 

 and following the trail, which was plainly to be 

 traced, by the leaves and earth, I discovered it 

 covered by leaves, and half consumed, on the mar- 

 gin of a pond full fifty yards distant from the place 

 where it had lain. Neither was there any doubt as 

 to the manner in which the removal of the deer 

 had been effected, for the footprints of the cat were 

 plainly and deeply impressed in the soil, along the 

 entire line of the trail the only doubt which could 

 arise, was whether the removal had been effected 

 by one, or by more ? 



In hunting the wild-cat, we do not scruple to use 

 the gun: first, because he sometimes climbs the 

 trees, and thus defies the dogs and, secondly, 

 because, if brought to bay and suffered to fight it 

 out with the pack, he seldom fails to cripple the 

 boldest and finest hounds. His fangs are long and 

 sharp, and his jaws have strength enough to crush 

 the bones of a dog's leg. 



The -wild-cat, when pursued by hounds, endeavors, 

 like the fox, to baffie them by frequent doubling ; 

 but unlike the fox, he keeps to the thickets, and 

 makes his run among the most tangled and imper- 

 vious covers : so that it is difficult for the sports- 

 man to get a glimpse of him. Where it could not 



