258 
A SURPRISE. 
denly Sport started up, and rushed out with 
a furious growl, which presently changed 
into something like a whine of fear. 
“What ails the dog?” said Richard, 
rising; but before he could reach the door 
it was darkened by a man’s shadow, and a 
head made itself visible. 
“ How d’ye do, young folks ?” said Erastus 
Waterman, presenting his long figure more 
fully to view: “I’ve brought a kitten to 
show you.” And as he spoke he threw down 
from his shoulders a large animal which he 
had been carrying. “ There ! a’n’t that a 
pretty kitten?” he said to Daisy. “You 
never saw such a big cat as that, did you, 
Dolly?” 
“What is it?” asked Daisy, half fright¬ 
ened, and shrinking back. “ A bear!” 
“A bear, indeed!” said Richard. “You 
never saw a bear of that colour, did you ? 
I do believe it is a panther.” 
“ That’s so, Dick. I expect it is the very 
one you heard the other day at the spring. 
I thought you’d like to see him: so I brought 
him here first. A’n’t he a beauty ?” he con¬ 
tinued, turning to Daisy. “See how soft 
