THE PANTHER'S CUBS. 83 



off in the direction of the sonnd, and at the head of 

 the gulf, under a ledge of rocks, we found three young 

 painters, nestling in a bed of leaves, snug enough. 

 They were about as large as cats, and plump, and fat, 

 and hungry as anything. One of 'em we knocked on 

 the head, and each of us took another, and went 

 ahead. We fed 'em on fresh meat, and bro't 'em out 

 safe. We sold them to a menagery man for twenty- 

 five dollars a piece. They were harmless, playful 

 things, and one would hardly think they'd grow up to 

 be such fierce and ugly customers. Old Pete Meigs 

 and I made fifty dollars a piece that trip round the 

 Hudson, and had a good time of it too." 



On the west side of the lake, some distance below 

 our shantee, the water was shallow for a few acres. 

 Here the pond-lilies grew in profusion, covering the 

 surface with their broad, round leaves, in the midst of 

 which sparkled, like silver, a thousand beautiful white 

 flowers. These lily patches furnish rich pasture for 

 the deer, and we noticed paths leading into the forest, 

 which were trampled almost like those leading to a 

 sheepfold. It being towards night, we sat ourselves 

 quietly down behind a thick clump of bushes, on a 

 low promontory, to watch for the deer as they should 



