THE COUGAR. 207 



his description, I ofFered to assist him in destroying the enemy, at 

 which he was highly pleasetl, but assured me that unless some of his 

 neighbours should join us with their dogs and his own, the attempt would 

 prove fruitless. Soon after, mounting a horse, he went off to his neigh- 

 bours, several of whom lived at a distance of some miles, and appointed 

 a day of meeting. 



The hunters, accordingly, made their appearance, one fine morning, 

 at the door of the cabin, just as the sun was emerging from beneath the 

 horizon. They were five in number, and fully equipped for the chase, 

 being mounted on horses, which in some parts of Europe might appear 

 sorry nags, but which in strength, speed and bottom, are better fitted for 

 pursuing a cougar or a bear through woods and morasses than any in that 

 country. A pack of large ugly curs were already engaged in making ac- 

 quaintance with those of the squatter. He and myself mounted his two 

 best horses, whilst his sons were bestriding others of inferior quality. 



Few words were uttered by the party until we had reached the edge 

 of the Swamp, where it was agreed that all should disperse and seek for 

 the fresh track of the Painter, it being previously settled that the dis- 

 coverer should blow his horn, and remain on the spot, until the rest 

 should join him. In less than an hour, the sound of the horn was 

 clearly heard, and, sticking close to the squatter, off we went through the 

 thick woods, guided only by the now and then repeated call of the dis- 

 tant huntsmen. We soon reached the spot, and in a short time the rest 

 of the party came up. The best dog was sent forward to track the 

 Cougar, and in a few moments, the whole pack were observed diligently 

 trailing, and bearing in their course for the interior of the Swamp. The 

 rifles were immediately put in trim, and the party followed the dogs, at 

 separate distances, but in sight of each other, determined to shoot at no 

 other game than the Panther. 



The dogs soon began to mouth, and suddenly quickened their pace. 

 My companion concluded that the beast was on the ground, and putting 

 our horses to a gentle gallop, we followed the ciu-s, guided by their voices. 

 The noise of the dogs increased, when, all of a sudden their mode of 

 barking became altered, and the squatter, urging me to push on, told me 

 that the beast was treed, by which he meant that it had got upon some 

 low branch of a large tree to rest for a few moments, and that should we 

 not succeed in shooting him when thus situated, we might expect a long 

 chase of it. As we approached the spot, we all by degress united into a 



