A hunter's life. 215 



laurel, wheu uiy dog showing signs of the presence of 

 game, we let him oflF, and in two or three minutes we 

 lieard him in full cry. We ran to him, and there found 

 the panther standing on the limb of a pine-tree, but high 

 enough to be out of reach of the dog. When we came 

 near, he crouched down, wagged his tail, and prepared for 

 a jump at us, his eyes flashing with fury. I took care to 

 keep at a safe distance, and taking good aim, I sent a ball 

 whizzing through his brains, which put an end to a wild 

 and furious monster. Being faint and hungry, we skinned 

 the panther in as little time as possible, and set out for 

 aome, having six or eight miles to travel. 



We trudged along together until we came to the road 

 that led to our home. There was a near way across a 

 steep hill, which Hugh said he was too weak to climb, and 

 he would follow the road. So we separated ; and I crossed 

 the hill, and got home before him, where I found old Uncle 

 Spurgin, who hud come to see us with the intention of 

 hunting a day or two. He had killed an opossum, which 

 Mary, having heard me say that I would not eat them, 

 and being bent on having some fun, had cooked, knowing 

 that we would be heme that day, as it was Saturday, 



When I came in, I told her that I was almost starved. 

 She replied that she had my dinner waiting for me, and 

 setting it on the table, I commenced eating without asking 

 any questions, till I was nearly done, when I inquired what 

 it was I was eating. Mary replied that it was a duck, 

 which Uncle Spurgin had shot on the pond ; so I con- 

 tinued eating until one of my little daughters came to me 

 with the tail of the opossum, saying, " Father, here is the 

 duck's tail." 



Mary was greatly amused with the trick she had played 

 oflf on me, and begged me to let her fix Hugh in the same 

 way. I promised to keep dark, and let her carry out her 

 fun with him also. Presently in came Hugh, tired enough, 



