A FALSE POSITION. 121 



that looked like a broad avenue, but covered 

 with short wild indigo. The herdsman had 

 before pointed out a flock of hovering vul- 

 tures ; and, looking down this avenue, shewed 

 the party, who were hid from view, the pan- 

 ther tearing away at the calf, but with his 

 tail turned towards the horsemen, and very 

 quietly told Don Miguel that now was his 

 time, and hoped he would dispatch the 

 enemy. 



To do the Don justice, he dismounted, 

 drew his long sword, and walked towards 

 the panther, who was about one hundred and 

 fifty yards off, the remainder of the party 

 sitting quietly on horseback, looking on, but 

 quite concealed. After having walked about 

 half the distance, he stopped, brandishing his 

 sword, and bawled out to the beast, " JIA/ 

 tigre! tig re! Afuera! AfueraT — "Beoff ! be 

 ofi" !" The panther only jumped over the 

 calf, so as to face the Spaniard, and began 

 growling so that the party could plainly hear 

 it. The Don finding it of no use to remain 

 where he was, advanced a little further, and 

 again flourishing his toledo^ began to adjure 

 him in the most expressive terms to be ofi^, 

 adding a great quantity of those sayings in 

 which the Spanish language is so fertile, but 



