here had been a
rapid diminution among the turkeys, lambs, and young pigs in the
neighbourhood, and we had unsuccessfully beaten the briars and
cane-brakes, expecting at every moment to fall in with some large
tiger-cat, which had strayed from the southern brakes. After much
fruitless labour, Mr. Courtenay came to the conclusion that a gang of
negro marroons were hanging about, and he ordered that a watch should
for the future be kept every night.

It happened that the whole family was one day invited to a wedding on
the other side of the river. Not having any clothes fit for a party, I
remained at home, and at mid-day started on horseback alone, with all
the dogs, for a battue. The day was sultry, although windy; as the roar
of the wind in the canes prevented me from hearing the barking of the
dogs, having arrived at one of our former hunting camping-places,
fifteen miles from the house, I threw myself upon the ground, and
allowed my horse to graze. I had scarcely been half-an-hour occupied in
smoking my pipe, when all the dogs, in full cry, broke from the briars,
and rushed into the cane-brakes, passing me at a distance of thirty
yards. I knew it was neither bear nor deer that they were running after,
and as I had observed a path through the canes, I leaped upon my saddle,
and followed the chase, wondering what it could be, as, had the animal
been any of the smaller feline species, it would have kept to the
briars, where dogs have never the least chance against them.

I rode briskly till I arrived at a large cypress swamp, on the other
side of which I could perceive through the openings another cane-brake,
higher and considerably thicker. I fastened my horse, giving him the
whole length of the lasso, to allow him to browse upon the young leaves
of the canes, and with my bowie knife and rifle entered the swamp,
following the trail of the dogs. When I came to the other cane-brake, I
heard the pack before me barking most furiously, and evidently at bay, I
could only be directed by the noise, as it was impossible for me to see
anything; so high and thick were the canes, that I was obliged to open a
way with my knife, and it was with much trouble and fatigue that I
arrived within twenty yards of the dogs. I knew that I was once more
approaching a swamp, for the canes were becoming thinner; raising my
eyes, I perceived that I was in the vicinity of a large cotton-tree, at
the foot of which probably the dogs were standing.