ts
which might serve for food, though it was now too late to obtain them.
Indeed, barely light enough remained to enable me to cut down some
branches with which to form a slight hut. I managed to collect a few to
answer my purpose, the thick trunk of a tree serving as a back. In spite
of this shelter, it was very cold; but of course I made up my mind to
endure it as best I could, and, in spite of hunger and anxiety, it was
not long before I fell asleep.

What time had elapsed I know not, when I was awakened by a shrill cry,
almost like that of a human being. I shouted out for help before I was
quite awake, thinking it must come from my companions, who were in
danger; but when completely aroused, I knew too well that it was the
shriek of the panther which so often makes night hideous in the forests
of the south. What the brute was about, I could not tell; but as I knew
he must be close to me, I again shouted out, hoping to frighten him
away. At the same time clutching hold of a low branch of the tree which
hung directly overhead, I swung myself into it.

Presently I saw the panther come out of a thicket close at hand, and
smell round the hut. He had only just discovered me, and seemed to have
a strong inclination to make his supper off my body. I did not feel
altogether comfortable, even where I was, as I had a belief that
panthers can climb, like most of the cat tribe, and that he might take
it into his head to mount the tree. I had no weapon besides my knife,
but with that I managed to cut off a pretty thick branch, with which I
hoped to be able to defend myself.

As I found it very cold where I sat, my first object was to try and
drive the brute away. I therefore kept pelting him with pieces of
withered branches, which I broke off; but to no purpose. Still snarling
occasionally, he kept smelling round and round the tree, frequently
casting a look up at me with his glittering eyes. Now and then he went
to a little distance, and seemed about to spring into the tree. At last
he got into a position which enabled me to take good aim at him, and I
threw a heavy piece of a branch, which hit him directly on the nose. At
the same time I sprung round the tree, so as to be concealed from his
view. He gave an upward glance; but not seeing me, he appeared to be
seized with sudden fright, and, greatly to my satisfaction, went
muttering away into the depths of the wood.

Trusting that the panther would not come back, I descended