THE DEATH. 



115 



the mount as fast as they could, without 

 being blown, and on gaining the summit, 

 after having followed close on the trail, a 

 large male panther, a female one, and a stout 

 cachorro, were seen about thirty yards off, 

 rolling over and over on the sand, and clean- 

 ing themselves after their late bloody repast. 



The female and cub made for the further 

 thicket immediately, and one barrel of the 

 double gun, and the single barrel, were both 

 discharged at her, but she got to the jungle. 

 Very differently did the male behave ; he 

 faced the party, and walked steadily towards 

 them, growling furiously, until about ten 

 yards off, when he received the contents of 

 the remaining barrel in the neck ; but, as it 

 turned out, too near the breast to produce an 

 instantaneous effect; for, nothing daunted, 

 he suddenly crouched, and made a tremendous 

 spring, preceded by a double roar, which roar 

 I wish I could describe ; it is like " Ugh ! 

 ugh !" pronounced like two small sharp claps 

 of thunder. He sprang, as nine out of ten 

 spring, with his forelegs well open, as if he 

 was going to grasp something or some one, 

 and received at least four feet of the tigrero's 

 lance into his body. The point entered in 

 the middle of the chest, and actually spitted 



