38 THE PENNSYLVANIA LION OR PANTHER. 



soon saw the deer running in different directions. I 

 got between them, in hopes that I should see them 

 tr3'ing to come together again. I kept my stand per- 

 haps five or six minutes, when I saw something slip- 

 ping through the bushes, which I took to be one of 

 the deer ; but I soon found that it was coming toward 

 me. I kept a close look out for it ; and directly, within 

 ten steps of me, up rose the head and shoulders of the 

 largest panther that I ever saw, either before or since. 

 He kept behind a large log that was near me, and 

 looked over. But though I had never seen a wild one 

 before, I knew the gentleman, and was rather afraid 

 of him. I aimed my rifle at him as well as I could, he 

 looking me full in the face ; and when I fired he made 

 a tremendous spring from me, and ran off through the 

 brush and briars, with the dog after him. 



"As soon as I recovered a little from my fright I 

 loaded again, and started after them. I followed them 

 as fast as I could, and soon found them at the foot 

 of a large and very high rock; the panther, in his 

 hurry, having sprung down the cleft of- rock fifteen 

 or twenty feet ; but the dog, being afraid to venture 

 so great a leap, ran around, and the two had met in a 

 thick laurel swamp, where they were fighting the 

 best way they could, each trying to get the advantage 

 of the other. I stood on the top of the rock over them, 

 and fired at the base of the panther's ear, when down 

 he went : and I ran round the rock, with m}' toma- 

 hawk in hand, believing him to be dead. But when I 

 got near him, I found he was up and fighting again. 



