WATCHFIRE AND WOUNDS. 177 



without beating hearts. We moved silently and cau 

 tiously on, holding the torches well before us, so as not 

 to be so agreeably surprised a second time. We reco- 

 vered our rifles without seeing the enemy. I held both 

 the torches while Conwell loaded his rifle, and then gave 

 them to him while I loaded mine, and having our faith- 

 ful weapons once more in our hands, we stepped forward 

 again still slowly and silently, but with lighter hearts. 

 " There !" suddenly called out C., holding his torch 

 aloft, and staring before him. It was the first word 

 spoken since we re-entered the cave. The panther lay 

 stretched on the ground, no longer dangerous, for the 

 last convulsions were over. We skinned him and cut 

 him up ; all the balls had taken effect, and both our 

 knives had pierced his body, so that it was only in his 

 death-struggle that he sprang upon us. We took the 

 skin, although it almost looked like a sieve, and returned 

 to our fire. 



It was night by the time we came out of the cave, 

 and, with hungry stomachs, lay all four by the fire ; for 

 neither we nor the dogs had any fancy to eat the panther. 

 Conwell suffered very much from his wound, but towards 

 morning he fell into a tolerably quiet sfeep. We moved 

 off with the first gleam of day to the place where I had 

 hung up the buck, breakfasted there, and started for 

 fresh game. 



Meantime it had become warmer. The snow had dis- 

 appeared, but all the game seemed to have gone on their 

 travels ; for although we saw signs enough, not a shot 

 could we get. In the night we were awakened by a thin 



cold rain, and having no mind to get wet through, we 

 12 



