194 THE PUMA AND CAT FAMILY. 



cat may often be seen to do when pretty secure of 

 its prey. The negro turned to fly, but frightened 

 as he was before, he now despaired when he found 

 that another panther had followed him, and that 

 instead of one beast he had two to contend with. How 

 he reached the road he never could tell, but he did 

 manao-e to get there, and to seize a stout stanchion that 

 had providentially dropped from some timber-waggon ; 

 and with this he beat off the panthers. 



He manacfed also to reach home and tell his master. 



S immediately seized his rifle, called up his 



hounds with his horn, and started in pursuit of the 

 panthers. His hounds found them, made them ^ tree,' 

 and one after the other they fell before S 's rifle. 



By the time my host's story was concluded it was 

 time for me to ride, and, my horse being brought 

 to the verandah, I mounted and started for Columbia, 

 about ten miles distant. \Mien I reached the ferry 

 on the San Bernard Eiver it was nearly sunset, and 

 before the negro ferryman could be found to convey 

 myself and horse across the river, the sun had set 

 below the forest ; but as the moon was nearly full 

 and the road, for a forest road, tolerably plain, I 

 held on my way for the town.* About four miles 

 from the ferry I came to a large open space, the 

 dry bed of a large pond, the white sand of which 



* There is but little twilight in Texas ; in ten minutes after the sun 

 is down, during the winter nights, it is perfectly dark, unless there is a 

 moon, as on this occasion. 



