204 THE POIA AND CAT FAMILY. 



* Look out, '• painter," cat, or bar I ' said Ben, when 

 lie saw all were ready for the sport ; ' I guess this team 

 'U make vou stir your pads if they come across the 

 trail of any of you, and weVe got the barking-tools to 

 back them up in any of their undertakings.' 



Following the sandy margin of the Creek, we rode 

 slowly forward, the hounds scatterincj themselyes about 

 in the forest, though two or three old stackers followed 

 the water-line as though they were looking for ^ sign,' 

 independent of their noses, and expected to see where 

 some cat had been to drink. 



Suddenly, at the same instant, one of the hounds at 

 some distance in the forest gaye a long yell, as though 

 he had come across something that was yery nice, just 

 as one of the old stagers opened at the edge of the 

 water, and, haying paused one instant, as though to 

 make sure that it was no false alarm, he dashed off in 

 full cry towards the other hound who had challenged: 

 and speedily the woods rang to the full chorus of the 

 united pack. 



' Let's see what it is, ' said Ben K , as he dis- 

 mounted, and gave his horse to hold, whilst he went 

 down OTi his knees to inspect the ground more closely 

 by the still indistinct light of the early day. 



^ Its a cat I the " sig^n " is as round as an orano^e,' 

 he said, as he rose from his knees. ' I was some- 

 what in hopes it might be a "painter," just for a 

 be2:inner.' 



