AFRICA. 71 
fcqueft our affiftance againft a panther, which, 
having for fome time taken up Its refidence in 
that canton, carried ofF regularly, every night, 
fome of the cattle ; and, as his propofal gave 
me great pleafure, I readily agreed to it, 
Happy at having an opportunity of hunting 
this animal according to rule, T trufted I 
Ihould be able to revenge myfelf for the ter- 
ror which one of the fame fpecies had occa- 
fioned to me in Saldanha Bay. 
Having agreed to fet out next morning, wc 
engaged fome young men in the neighbour- 
hood to join us. Obferving that they did not 
confent with a good grace, I endeavoured to 
make the moft timid afhamed ; and this gave 
a kind of fpur to the reft. When about to 
depart, we collected all the dogs we could 
find ; each armed himfelf cap-a-pie ; and, 
when properly equipped, we all feparated, 
as if we had been about to give an affault. 
To enjoy a few hours reft, and prepare my- 
felf for the fatigues of the next day, I threw 
myfelf on my bed ; but impatience and joy 
prevented me from clofmg my eye-lids. By 
the break of day I reached the plain, with my 
efcort, where Smit and a few friends were 
F 4 waiting 
