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.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

THE LONE MOUND.

Their route led them through one of those lovely landscapes which are
met with only in this southern region--_a flower-prairie_. They
travelled in the midst of flowers. Flowers were before them, behind,
and on every side. Their shining corollas covered the prairie as far as
the eye could see. There were golden sunflowers (_helianthi_), and red
malvas, euphorbias, and purple lupins. There were the rose-coloured
blossoms of the wild althea, and the brilliant orange of Californian
poppies--glancing among the green leaves like so many balls of fire--
while lower upon the surface grew the humble violas, sparkling like
azure gems.

The glorious sun was shining over all; and the late rain that had washed
them seemed to have added to the fragrance and brilliancy. Millions of
butterflies flew over them, or rested in their soft cups, not less
brilliant than the flowers themselves. Some of these were of vast
dimensions, their downy wings speckled and striped with varied and
gorgeous tints. There were other insects of gay colours and glancing
wings. The giant spider-fly flew around, now poised on whirring wing,
and now darting off like a thread of lightning to some o