206 THE PUMA AND CAT FAMILY. 



loosed its hold, and tried to escape ; but the other 

 dogs instantl}^ closed, and the cat was literally ' chawed 

 up ' in no time. 



Taking the pack to the Creek where the wounded 

 could bathe their hurts and refresh themselves, we 

 gave them ten minutes' breathing time before we 

 started to look for a fresh quarry. The second * treed,' 

 and was shot after a short run, as was the third ; but 

 the fourth fairly got away from us, either by spring- 

 ing from tree to tree for a long distance, or else by 

 walking a grape vine w^hich spanned the Creek high 

 up, where it stretched from tree-top to tree-top on 

 either side ; but how it was done we never knew 

 precisel}^, and as by this time the sun had got too 

 hot for hunting, we returned tired and hungry to 

 camp, where the negroes had prepared some hot 

 coffee and broiled rashers, to which we did full justice. 



One of those little pests it is impossible for the 

 hunter to guard against, is the American Skunk, 

 (^Me^hitis Chinga.) Few people wdio have hunted 

 long in the South have failed to make the acquaint- 

 ance of this animal, and strangers w^ho have unwittingly 

 attacked him have had cause, for many a day, to rue 

 their onslaught. Bogs, w^ho do not know its qualities, 

 attack it, expecting an easy victory, and even some 

 dogs who have previously caught a Tartar, are anxious 

 to avenge past grievances, and ' pitch in ' to be again 

 discomfited. 



