EPISODES 



265 



to follow the track of the dogs. We dismounted, took off 

 the saddles and bridles, set the bells attached to the 

 horses' necks at liberty to jingle, hoppled the animals, 

 and left them to shift for themselves. 



Now, kind reader, follow the group marching through 

 the swamp, crossing muddy pools, and making the 

 best of their way over fallen trees and amongst the 

 tangled rushes that now and then covered acres of 

 ground. If you are a hunter yourself, all this will 

 appear nothing to you; but if crowded assemblies of 

 "beauty and fashion," or the quiet enjoyment of your 

 "pleasure grounds" alone delight you, I must mend my 

 pen before I attempt to give you an idea of the pleasure 

 felt on such an expedition. 



After marching for a couple of hours, we again heard 



the dogs. Each of us pressed forward, elated at the 



thought of terminating the career of the Cougar. Some 



of the dogs were heard whining, although the greater 



number barked vehemently. We felt assured that the 



Cougar was treed, and that he would rest for some time 



to recover from his fatigue. As we came up to the dogs, 



we discovered the ferocious animal lying across a large 



branch, close to the trunk of a cotton-wood tree. His 



broad breast lay towards us; his eyes were at one time 



bent on us and again on the dogs beneath and around him ; 



one of his fore-legs hung loosely by his side, and he lay 



crouched, with his ears lowered close to his head, as if 



he thought he might remain undiscovered. Three balls 



were fired at him, at a given signal, on which he sprang 



a few feet from the branch, and tumbled headlong to 



the ground. Attacked on all sides by the enraged curs, 



the infuriated Cougar fought with desperate valor; but the 



squatter, advancing in front of the party, and almost in 



the midst of the dogs, shot him immediately behind and 



beneath the left shoulder. The Cougar writhed for a 



moment in agony, and in another lay dead. 



