288 FORTY- FOUR YEARS OF 



He then said to me, " Browiiinj;, your hunting is really 

 of great service to this country ; for, if you come on one 

 of these sneaking devils, you spare no pains to kill him ; 

 and there is no knowing how many cattle, sheep, and hogs 

 you thus save to the inhabitants. I was going to tell you 

 to be always prepared for them ; but I know you under- 

 stand them, and will take care of yourself. But, what- 

 ever you do, never let one of the devils escape if you can 

 help it." 



After breakfast, the old gentleman and myself had a 

 long talk, and he asked me to stay and take dinner with 

 him ; but, knowing that Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwater would he 

 uneasy about me, for they expected me home the pre- 

 ceding night, I made an apology, bade my friend good- 

 bye, and returned to Mr. Fitzwater's. They were much 

 alarmed at my absence, but concluded that I had gone 

 home, as the weather had become unfavorable for hunting. 

 Concluding to return home, I bade them farewell, and en- 

 tered the woods, to hunt along the route, or part of the 

 way, at any rate. 



On reaching Meadow Mountain, I began to ascend it, 

 and had traveled some distance up, when I saw the tracks 

 of an animal in the snow. There had been some soft days, 

 and the snow on the south side of the mountain was co- 

 vered with a strong crust ; but, as the north side had not 

 been affected by the heat, the snow did not there freeze 

 into a crust. I made a close examination, and found that 

 the animal had come out of a hollow tree. His feet being 

 muddy, I was able to follow him by the colored tracks until 

 I traced him to a deer which a hunter had killed, and 

 there lay a man's hat. 



I then saw that it was a panther of the largest kind ; 

 and, thinking of Mr. Calmes's advice, I determined to kill 

 him if possible. It had found the hunter's deer, with the 

 hat hung by 't, to keep the beasts and birds away ; but his 



