That expectation, however, was a vain one. Poor lads! they little
thought what was before them. Their nerves were to be tried still
farther, and by as severe a test as they had yet endured. The wolves
howled fearfully around the camp, and their eyes still shone through the
gloom. But this would not have kept the boys from sleeping, had their
attention not been called to another sound--the voice of a far different
creature. They heard it amidst the howlings of the wolves, and knew it
at once, for it resembled not these. It was more like the squalling of
an angry cat, but far louder, fiercer, and more terrible. _It was the
scream of the cougar_!
I say that the young hunters recognised the voice of this animal at
once--for they had heard it while hunting in the forests of Louisiana,
although they had never been exposed to its attack. From ample
testimony, however, they knew its power and fierce nature; and were,
therefore, terrified by its scream--as men of strongest nerves had often
been before them.
When its cry first reached their ears, it appeared feeble and distant--
not louder than the mewing of a kitten. The animal was evidently far
off in the forest. They knew, however, that it could soon traverse the
ground that lay between it and their camp. They listened. A second
scream sounded nearer. They sprang to their feet, and listened again.
A third call appeared more distant. This, however, arose from a
misconception on their part. They forgot that their _ears were now
farther from the ground_.
They stood a moment gazing on each other with looks of terror and
apprehension. What was to be done?
"Shall we mount our horses and fly?" asked Basil.
"We know not what way to go," suggested Lucien. "We may ride right into
its teeth!"
This was likely enough; for it is a singular fact that the scream of the
cougar, like the roar of the lion, seems to come from any or every side.
It is difficult to tell in what direction the animal is who utters it.
Whether this illusion be produced by the terror of the listener is a
question yet unsolved.
"What can we do?" said Basil. "Taking to a tree is of no use. These
animals can climb like squirrels. What can we do?"
Lucien stood silent, as if considering.
"I have read," said he, at length, "that the cougar will not cross fire.
It is the case with most animals, although _there are exceptions_. Let
us try that. Hush! Listen!"
All three remained silent. Again the cougar uttered his wild note,
still far off.
"You hear," continued Lucien; "he is distant yet. Perhaps he is not
coming this way. It is best, however, to be prepared while we have
time. Let us try the _circle of fire_!"
Both Basil and Francois understood what their brother meant. All three
flung down their rifles and, rushing among the trees, collected dry wood
in armfuls. Fortunately, this was in abundance near the spot. Some
dead trees had fallen long ago; and their branches, breaking into pieces
as they fell, covered the ground with numerous fragments just fit for
firewood. In the large pile already blazing, there was no lack of
kindling stuff; and in a few minutes a complete circle of fires, almost
touching one another, burnt upon the ground.
The boys had lost no time, working as if for their lives. It was well
they did so; for the voice of the cougar, that they had heard at
intervals, each time growing louder, now echoed through the aisles of
the forest, drowning all other sounds. Strange to say, the howling of
the wolves suddenly ceased, and these creatures were no longer to be
heard. But there were other sounds audible--the stamping and snorting
of the terrified horses. The young hunters, up to this time, had not
thought of the safety of these poor animals. It was now too late to
relieve them--the cougar was within a hundred yards of the camp!
All three, along with Marengo, placed themselves within the _circle of
fire_. Fortunately, there was no wind--not a breath--and the smoke rose
vertically upward, leaving them a breathing space within. There they
stood, guns in hand. Around them the fires blazed and crackled; but
above the snapping of the knots, and the hiss of the spurting piping
tree gas, could be heard the wild cry of the cougar! It now became
evident on what side the animal was; for, as the young hunters peered
through the smoke and blaze, they could distinguish the yellow cat-like
body, moving to and fro under the hanging meat. The rounded head, the
long hollow back, the smooth tawny skin, were not to be mistaken. As if
to add to their terrible situation, the boys now saw that _not one, but
a pair_, of these fearful creatures were upon the ground, moving
backward and forward, passing each other, and looking eagerly up at the
meat where it hung.
It now occurred to the hunters what an oversight they had made, in not
cutting down the meat. Had they done so, the cougars would no doubt
have devoured it, and moved off after satisfying their hunger. Alas! it
was too late for such a thought.
For several minutes the animals continued to walk backward and forward,
eagerly eyeing the tempting object above them. Several times they
sprang up, as if to seize it; but their efforts fell far short, and they
desisted. One of them now ran up the tree, to which the lasso was
fastened. His claws could be heard rattling upon the bark as he sprang
upward. He first climbed to the branch over which the bear-meat hung.
This he shook with violence, looking downward, to see if the suspended
object would fall. Disappointed, he left this after a time, and came
down to the other branch, where the lasso was tied in a knot. Here he
again seized the rope in his claws, and shook it with violence, but with
a like result. Although he had the advantage of the wolves in being
able to climb the tree, he had not _their_ cunning, else he would soon
have let the meat down, by cutting the rope with his teeth. This idea,
however, belonged to a higher development of brain than his; and, after
seizing the lasso several times, and shaking it as before, he returned
to the ground to his mate, who had sat all the while watching his
manoeuvres.
These efforts to reach the meat occupied nearly an hour. During all
that time the boys stood within the _circle of fire_, in the most
distressing situation. They were half-roasted by the heat, that had
been all along increasing, as the black logs burned into red embers.
They had made their circle _too small_; and they stood as in the midst
of a fiery furnace!
The smoke had partially cleared away, and they could witness every
movement of the cougars; but the terrible heat that oppressed them had
almost conquered their fear of these animals; and little would now have
tempted them to rush forth and battle with them. The perspiration ran
from every pore, and their guns felt like bars of hot iron!
"I can stand it no longer," cried Basil; "let us fire at them, rush out,
and take our chance."
"Patience, brother," replied Lucien. "One moment longer. Perhaps they
may go away."
As Lucien spoke, the cougars, who had now given up the bear's meat,
stealthily approached the fire. They crept forward like cats, when
stealing upon their prey. At intervals they uttered a strange sound,
like the low cough of a person in consumption. They gave forth another
sound, which fell equally strange upon the ears of the hunters. It
resembled the purring of a cat when caressed; but was much louder, and,
in the forest, now silent, could be heard at a considerable distance.
It was too plainly heard by those who were near. Both uttered it, as if
to encourage one another in their approach; and they kept crawling on,
waving their tails as they advanced. When within a few feet of the
fire, they stopped, and laid themselves almost flat along the ground--
yet evidently prepared to spring forward at any moment. It was a
terrible sight to look upon these fierce creatures as they lay. The
light of the great fire made every part of them fearfully apparent.
Their claws, their teeth, half uncovered, and even the bright irides of
their shining eyes were seen distinctly. But they looked not half so
fearful as at first. The young hunters now contemplated them from a
different point of view. They were suffering where they stood, so
fearfully, that there seemed no danger beyond that hot circle of fire--
not even from the claws of a cougar!
"I shall stand it no longer," cried Basil. "We'll be roasted outright.
You, brothers, take that one, I'll aim at this--so--now--fear not--
fire!"
As Basil ceased speaking, the three cracks sounded almost together; and,
as soon as they had fired, all three leaped out of the blazing cordon.
Whether Lucien and Francois had missed their aim was not known until
afterwards; but Basil had not missed his. He had wounded the cougar;
and scarcely had the young hunters got clear of the fiery circle, when
the infuriated animal sprang into it, and was seen, now upon its feet,
and now rolling over the ground in the throes of death. Marengo
attacked it; but both got among the red cinders, and the dog was fain to
make his escape out again. The cougar, left to itself, soon ceased its
struggles, and lay upon the ground, to all appearance, dead.
But what of the other?
As all three stood listening, the snorting and stamping of horses fell
upon their ears, and above all was heard the squealing of the mule
Jeanette! This lasted for a few minutes, and at length all was silent
as before.
"Poor Jeanette!" thought they. "The other has made a meal of her.
Well--we must do without her, that's all."
They kept watch until daybreak, still fearful that the cougar might come
back for its mate. The rain had now begun to fall, and poured down in
torrents, drowning out their fires. They did not attempt to rekindle
them; but stood, with their blankets around their shoulders, sheltering
themselves as they best could under the trees.
When the daylight came, what was their surprise as well as joy to see
Jeanette quietly browsing at the end of her trail-rope, and close by her
the body of the cougar lying dead upon the ground! It had been wounded
by the shots; but that, as they soon ascertained, was not the cause of
its death, for its body was crushed and its ribs broken! For some time
they could not understand this. At length, however, it was explained to
them. The situation in which the animal was found enabled them to clear
up the mystery. It was lying by the foot of a large tree, against
which, no doubt, it had got the squeeze that had killed it. While
retreating it had sprung upon Jeanette; and the latter, in her
endeavours to escape, had in the darkness rushed violently against the
tree, crushing the cougar, and killing it instantly!
The fierce brute had left the trace of its claws upon Jeanette's back
and withers; and a deep gash under her throat showed where its teeth had
been buried. It was fortunate for the mule she had rushed against the
tree, else the cougar would have held on until he had drunk the
life-blood from her veins--as this is the mode by which these animals
put their prey to death.
It was now morning, but the young hunters having been awake nearly all
the night, were weary and could have gone to rest. This, however, they
did not think prudent. They believed they had got themselves into a
part of the forest where there were many dangerous creatures, and they
came to the determination to shift their camp, and travel as far from
the spot as possible before night. The truth is, they were upon a
timbered stream--an affluent of the Trinity river; and as the latter was
at this season overflowed, all the wild animals--bears, cougars, wolves,
lynxes, and javalies--had been driven out of the low bottoms, and were
roaming through the adjacent woods, more hungry and fierce than they
commonly are.
Having saddled their horses, and packed Jeanette with their robes,
blankets, and meat, our adventurers again took the route westward.
After proceeding a few miles they issued from the woods, and struck out
into the open prairie.