PANTHER KILLED. 11 



In the evening, shortly after we had turned out our animals to graze, 

 and had made everything snug and comfortable about us, ourselves 

 reclining very quietly after the fatigue of the day's march, one of the 

 hunters came into camp and informed us that a panther had crossed the 

 creek but a short distance above, and was coming towards us. This 

 piece of intelligence, as may be supposed, created no little excitement 

 in our quiet circle. Everybody was up in an instant, seizing muskets, 

 rifles, or any other weapon that came to hand, and, followed by all 

 the dogs in camp, a very general rush was made towards the spot 

 indicated by the Delaware. On reaching the place, we found where 

 the animal, in stepping from the creek, had left water upon his track, 

 which was not yet dry, showing that he had passed within a short 

 time. We pointed out the track to several of the dogs, and endea- 

 vored, by every means which our ingenuity could suggest, to inspire 

 them with some small -degree of that enthusiasm which had animated 

 us. We coaxed, cheered, and scolded, put their noses into the track, 

 clapped our hands, pointed in the direction of the trail, hissed, and 

 made use of divers other canine arguments to convince them that there 

 was something of importance on hand ; but it was all to no purpose. 

 They did not seem to enter into the spirit of the chase, or to regard 

 the occasion as one in which there was much glory to be derived from 

 following in the footsteps of their illustrious predecessor. On the con- 

 trary, the zeal which they manifested in starting out from camp, sud- 

 denly abated as soon as their olfactories came in contact with the track, 

 and it was with very great difficulty that we could prevent them from 

 running away. At this moment, however, our old bear-dog came up, 

 and no sooner had he caught a snuff of the atmosphere than, suddenly 

 coming to a stop and raising his head into the air, he sent forth one 

 prolonged note, and started off in full cry upon the trail. He led off 

 boldly into the timber, followed by the other dogs, who had now re- 

 covered confidence, with the men at their heels, cheering them on and 

 shouting most vociferously, each one anxious to get the first glimpse of 

 the panther. They soon roused him from his lair, and after making a 

 few circuits around the grove, he took to a tree. 



I was so fortunate as to reach the spot a little in advance of the 

 party, and gave him a shot which brought him to the ground. The 

 dogs then closed in with him, and others of the party coming up directly 

 afterwards, fired several shots, which took effect, and soon placed him 

 "hors du combat." He was a fine specimen of the North American 

 cougar {Felis concolor,) measuring eight and a half feet from his nose 

 to the extremity of his tail. 



