A HUNT WITH A SQUATTER 163 



cougar is designated in America, and that the ravenous 

 animal did not content himself with the flesh of his pigs, 

 but now and then carried off one of his calves, notwith- 

 standing the many attempts he had made to shoot it. 



" The ' painter,' as he sometimes called it, had on sev- 

 eral occasions robbed him of a dead deer; and to these 

 exploits the squatter added several remarkable feats of au- 

 dacity which it had performed to give me an idea of the 

 formidable character of the beast. Delighted by his de- 

 scription, I offered to assist him in destroying the enemy; 

 at which he was highly pleased, but assured me that unless 

 some of his neighbors should join us with their dogs and 

 his own, the attempt would prove fruitless. Soon after, 

 mounting a horse, he went off to his neighbors, several of 

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

 day of meeting. The hunters accordingly made their ap- 

 pearance 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 the woods and morasses than any in other 

 countries. A pack of large, ugly curs was already engaged 

 in making acquaintance with those of the squatter. He 

 and myself mounted his two best horses, while his sons were 

 bestriding others of inferior quality. 



