ESCAPE FR03I A PA>^TKER. 195 



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the moonbeams lit up, till, in comparison to the dark 

 forest through which I bad been riding, the open 

 space seemed almost as light as in the day-time. I 

 ought here to mention that my horse was a ligbt cream- 

 coloured one, called in Texas a ' clay-bank,' and the 

 moment we emerged from the dark forest, I noticed 

 an animal rush towards me from the other side of 

 the pond, the space between us being about one 

 hundred yards. Before the beast had made three 

 long, lithe bounds, I saw that it was a panther, 

 and at the same instant it flashed across my mind 

 that he had mistaken my light-coloured horse for a 

 cow or heifer. With a loaded rifle and my stout 

 hunting-knife, I should have asked no better luck 

 than to try conclusions with the 'painter,' but now, 

 without one bullet to cripple him, I confess I did 

 not so much relish the duel before me. Halting my 

 horse, and standing up in my stirrups, I took my h.ea,Yj 

 rifle by the barrel, intending to bring it do^vn upon 

 the head of the panther the moment he sprang at 

 my horse, and almost involuntarily I gave the Co- 

 manche war-w^hoop, in tones that would not have 

 disgraced a red- skinned warrior. 



It acted like magic. When within ten strides, the 

 fierce beast found out that he had a man instead of 

 having a cow to contend with ; he turned at right 

 angles and bounded off into the bush. My horse 

 snorted, and I drew a long breath, as we started once 



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