CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
THE CIRCLE OF FIRE.
That expectation, however, was a vain one. Poor lads! they littlethought what was before them. Their nerves were to be tried stillfarther, and by as severe a test as they had yet endured. The wolveshowled fearfully around the camp, and their eyes still shone through thegloom. But this would not have kept the boys from sleeping, had theirattention not been called to another sound--the voice of a far differentcreature. They heard it amidst the howlings of the wolves, and knew itat once, for it resembled not these. It was more like the squalling ofan angry cat, but far louder, fiercer, and more terrible. _It was thescream of the cougar_!
I say that the young hunters recognised the voice of this animal atonce--for they had heard it while hunting in the forests of Louisiana,although they had never been exposed to its attack. From ampletestimony, however, they knew its power and fierce nature; and were,therefore, terrified by its scream--as men of strongest nerves had oftenbeen 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 faroff in the forest. They knew, however, that it could soon traverse theground that lay between it and their camp. They listened. A secondscream sounded nearer. They sprang to their feet, and listened again.A third call appeared more distant. This, however, arose from amisconception on their part. They forgot that their _ears were nowfarther from the ground_.
They stood a moment gazing on each other with looks of terror andapprehension. 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 intoits teeth!"
This was likely enough; for it is a singular fact that the scream of thecougar, 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 aquestion yet unsolved.
"What can we do?" said Basil. "Taking to a tree is of no use. Theseanimals 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_. Letus 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 notcoming this way. It is best, however, to be prepared while we havetime. Let us try the _circle of fire_!"
Both Basil and Francois understood what their brother meant. All threeflung down their rifles and, rushing among the trees, collected dry woodin armfuls. Fortunately, this was in abundance near the spot. Somedead trees had fallen long ago; and their branches, breaking into piecesas they fell, covered the ground with numerous fragments just fit forfirewood. In the large pile already blazing, there was no lack ofkindling stuff; and in a few minutes a complete circle of fires, almosttouching one another, burnt upon the ground.
The boys had lost no time, working as if for their lives. It was wellthey did so; for the voice of the cougar, that they had heard atintervals, each time growing louder, now echoed through the aisles ofthe forest, drowning all other sounds. Strange to say, the howling ofthe wolves suddenly ceased, and these creatures were no longer to beheard. But there were other sounds audible--the stamping and snortingof the terrified horses. The young hunters, up to this time, had notthought of the safety of these poor animals. It was now too late torelieve them--the cougar was within a hundred yards of the camp!
All three, along with Marengo, placed themselves within the _circle offire_. Fortunately, there was no wind--not a breath--and the smoke rosevertically upward, leaving them a breathing space within. There theystood, guns in hand. Around them the fires blazed and crackled; butabove the snapping of the knots, and the hiss of the spurting pipingtree gas, could be heard the wild cry of the cougar! It now becameevident on what side the animal was; for, as the young hunters peeredthrough the smoke and blaze, they could distinguish the yellow cat-likebody, moving to and fro under the hanging meat. The rounded head, thelong hollow back, the smooth tawny skin, were not to be mistaken. As ifto add to their terrible situation, the boys now saw that _not one, buta pair_, of these fearful creatures were upon the ground, movingbackward and forward, passing each other, and looking eagerly up at themeat where it hung.
It now occurred to the hunters what an oversight they had made, in notcutting down the meat. Had they done so, the cougars would no doubthave devoured it, and moved off after satisfying their hunger. Alas! itwas 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 theysprang up, as if to seize it; but their efforts fell far short, and theydesisted. One of them now ran up the tree, to which the lasso wasfastened. His claws could be heard rattling upon the bark as he sprangupward. He first climbed to the branch over which the bear-meat hung.This he shook with violence, looking downward, to see if the suspendedobject would fall. Disappointed, he left this after a time, and camedown to the other branch, where the lasso was tied in a knot. Here heagain seized the rope in his claws, and shook it with violence, but witha like result. Although he had the advantage of the wolves in beingable to climb the tree, he had not _their_ cunning, else he would soonhave let the meat down, by cutting the rope with his teeth. This idea,however, belonged to a higher development of brain than his; and, afterseizing the lasso several times, and shaking it as before, he returnedto the ground to his mate, who had sat all the while watching hismanoeuvres.
These efforts to reach the meat occupied nearly an hour. During allthat time the boys stood within the _circle of fire_, in the mostdistressing situation. They were half-roasted by the heat, that hadbeen all along increasing, as the black logs burned into red embers.They had made their circle _too small_; and they stood as in the midstof a fiery furnace!
The smoke had partially cleared away, and they could witness everymovement of the cougars; but the terrible heat that oppressed them hadalmost conquered their fear of these animals; and little would now havetempted them to rush forth and battle with them. The perspiration ranfrom 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 theymay 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, whenstealing upon their prey. At intervals they uttered a strange sound,like the low cough of a person in consumption. They gave forth anothersound, which fell equally strange upon the ears of the hunters. Itresembled 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 ifto encourage one another in their approach; and they kept crawling on,waving their tails as they advanced. When within a few feet of thefire, they stopped, and laid themselves almost flat along the ground--yet evidently prepared to spring forward at any moment. It was aterrible sight to look upon these fierce creatures as they lay. Thelight of the great fire made every part of them fearfully apparent.Their claws, their teeth, half uncovered, and even the bright irides oftheir shining eyes were seen distinctly. But they looked not half sofearful as at first. The young hunters now contemplated them from adifferent point of view. They were suffering where they stood, sofearfully, 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 speak
ing, 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 untilafterwards; but Basil had not missed his. He had wounded the cougar;and scarcely had the young hunters got clear of the fiery circle, whenthe infuriated animal sprang into it, and was seen, now upon its feet,and now rolling over the ground in the throes of death. Marengoattacked it; but both got among the red cinders, and the dog was fain tomake his escape out again. The cougar, left to itself, soon ceased itsstruggles, 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 fellupon their ears, and above all was heard the squealing of the muleJeanette! This lasted for a few minutes, and at length all was silentas 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 comeback for its mate. The rain had now begun to fall, and poured down intorrents, drowning out their fires. They did not attempt to rekindlethem; but stood, with their blankets around their shoulders, shelteringthemselves as they best could under the trees.
When the daylight came, what was their surprise as well as joy to seeJeanette quietly browsing at the end of her trail-rope, and close by herthe body of the cougar lying dead upon the ground! It had been woundedby the shots; but that, as they soon ascertained, was not the cause ofits death, for its body was crushed and its ribs broken! For some timethey could not understand this. At length, however, it was explained tothem. The situation in which the animal was found enabled them to clearup the mystery. It was lying by the foot of a large tree, againstwhich, no doubt, it had got the squeeze that had killed it. Whileretreating it had sprung upon Jeanette; and the latter, in herendeavours to escape, had in the darkness rushed violently against thetree, crushing the cougar, and killing it instantly!
The fierce brute had left the trace of its claws upon Jeanette's backand withers; and a deep gash under her throat showed where its teeth hadbeen buried. It was fortunate for the mule she had rushed against thetree, else the cougar would have held on until he had drunk thelife-blood from her veins--as this is the mode by which these animalsput their prey to death.
It was now morning, but the young hunters having been awake nearly allthe night, were weary and could have gone to rest. This, however, theydid not think prudent. They believed they had got themselves into apart of the forest where there were many dangerous creatures, and theycame to the determination to shift their camp, and travel as far fromthe spot as possible before night. The truth is, they were upon atimbered stream--an affluent of the Trinity river; and as the latter wasat this season overflowed, all the wild animals--bears, cougars, wolves,lynxes, and javalies--had been driven out of the low bottoms, and wereroaming through the adjacent woods, more hungry and fierce than theycommonly 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 outinto the open prairie.