A WOODLAND SUPPER A PANTHER. 103 



it was play, setting his fore-foot several times on the 

 body of his comrade as if to induce him to get up. I had 

 tlie other barrel still loaded, but thought it would be 

 like murder to injure a hair of the little creature. 



As I stepped out from the bushes, the fawn stared 

 at me with astonishment in his large clear eyes ; prob- 

 ably he had never seen a man before. He then flew 

 like the wind towards his dam, but stopping now and 

 then as if he expected his comrade. I quickly made a 

 fire on the spot to roast my game, putting the greater 

 part of the back and the brisket on sticks before the 

 fire with hollow bark underneath to catch the dripping 

 for basting ; and a delicious meal was very soon the 

 result of this simple proceeding. 



Next day, as I was going quietly along througli forest 

 and prairie, looking out right and left for game or 

 amusement, I caught sight of something in a large oak. 

 Fixing my eyes steadily on it, and coming closer, I 

 recognized the glowing eyes of a panther crouched on a 

 bough, and seemingly ready to spring. I gave him 

 both barrels, one after the other, when he fell from the 

 tree, and died with a fearful howl. lie was a large 

 handsome beast, of an ashy gray color, and measuring 

 from seven to eight feet from the nose to the end of the 

 tail. 



It was well that I had venison in my game-bag, 

 for the panther would have been a tough morsel. I 

 dragged the rather heavy skin with me till the even- 

 ing, and slept soundly on it for my trouble. A damp 

 fog came on towards morning, which soon turned to 

 fine penetrating rain, seeming to foretell a disagreeable 

 day ; but as I had enjoyed beautiful weather in general, 



