244 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
hogs and their young came grunting at the well known call 
of their owner, who threw them a few ears of corn, and 
counted them, but told me that for some weeks their num- 
ber had been greatly diminished by the ravages committed 
upon them by a large Panther , by which name the 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, notwithstanding the many 
attempts he had made to shoot it. The Painter , as he 
sometimes called it, had on several occasions robbed him of 
a dead deer; and to these exploits the squatter added several 
remarkable feats of audacity which it had performed, to give 
me an idea of the formidable character of the beast. De- 
lighted by his description, I offered to assist him in destroy- 
ing the enemy, at which he was highly pleased, 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 neighbours, 
several of whom lived at a distance of some miles, and ap- 
pointed 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 acquaintance 
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 reach- 
ed 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 discoverer 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 distant huntsman. 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 curs, guided by their voices. The noise of 
the dogs increased, when all of a sudden their mode of bark- 
ing 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 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 degrees united into a 
body, but on seeing the dogs at the foot of a large tree, se- 
parated again and galloped off to surround it. 
Each hunter now moved with caution, holding his gun 
ready, and allowing the bridle to dangle on the neck of his 
horse, as it advanced slowly towards the dogs. A shot 
from one of the party was heard, on which the Cougar was 
seen to leap to the ground, and bound off with such velocity 
as to show that he was very unwilling to stand our fire 
longer. The dogs set off in pursuit with great eagerness 
and a deafening cry. The hunter who had fired came up 
and said that his ball had hit the monster, and had probably 
broken one of his fore-legs near the shoulder, the only place 
at which he could aim. A slight trail of blood was disco- 
vered on the ground, but the curs proceeded at such a rate 
that we merely noticed this, and put spurs to our horses, 
which galloped on towards the centre of the swamp. One 
bayou was crossed, then another still larger and more muddy ; 
but the dogs were brushing forward, and as the horses began 
to pant at a furious rate, we judged it expedient to leave 
them and advance on foot. These determined hunters knew 
that the Cougar being wounded, would shortly ascend 
another tree, where in all probability he would remain for 
a considerable time, and that it would be easy to follow the 
track of the dogs. We dismounted, took off the saddles 
and bridles, set the bells attached to the horses’ necks at 
liberty to jingle, hoppled the animals, and left them to shift 
for themselves. 
Now, reader, follow the group marehing through the 
swamp, crossing muddy pools, and making the best of their 
way over fallen trees and amongst the tangled rushes that 
now and then covered acres of ground. If you are a hunter 
yourself, all this will appear nothing to you; but if crowded 
assemblies of “beauty and fashion,” or the quiet enjoyment 
of your “pleasure-grounds,” alone delight you, I must mend 
my pen before I attempt to give you an idea of the pleasure 
felt on such an expedition. 
After marching for a couple of hours, we again heard the 
dogs. Each of us pressed forward, elated at the thought of 
terminating the career of the Cougar. Some of the dogs 
were heard whining, although the greater number barked 
vehemently. We felt assured that the Cougar was treed, 
and that he would rest for some time to recover from his 
