WATCHFIRE AND WOUNDS. 333 



mine ; and having our faithful weapons once more in 

 our hands, we stepjDed 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 Ave 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 

 sleep. 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. 



IMeantime it had become warmer. The snow had 

 disappeared, but all the game seemed to have gone on 

 their travels ; for although we saw signs enough, 

 not a shot could Ave get. In the night Ave Avere 

 aAvakened by a thin cold rain, and ha\'ing no mind to 

 get Avet through, Ave jumped up, cut poles Avith our 

 lieaA-y knives, and spreading my blanket, A\diich Avas 

 the largest, over them, and laying ourselves on the 

 other, underneath it, after making up the fire afresh, 

 that the rain might not put it out, Ave Avere soon fiist 

 asleep. 



Next morning brought fresh troubles, but no rcAvard. 



