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prowling for its prey。 Certainly no man could well listen to a stranger
and wilder sound。
Ordinarily the rifleman is in no danger from a hunted cougar； the
beast's one idea seems to be flight； and even if its assailant is very
close； it rarely charges if there is any chance for escape。 Yet there
are occasions when it will show fight。 In the spring of 1890； a man
with whom I had more than once worked on the round…upthough I never
knew his namewas badly mauled by a cougar near my ranch。 He was
hunting with a companion and they unexpectedly came on the cougar on a
shelf of sandstone above their herds； only some ten feet off。 It
sprang down on the man； mangled him with teeth and claws for a moment；
and then ran away。 Another man I knew； a hunter named Ed。 Smith； who
had a small ranch near Helena； was once charged by a wounded cougar；
he received a couple of deep scratches； but was not seriously hurt。
Many old frontiersmen tell tales of the cougar's occasionally itself
making the attack； and dogging to his death some unfortunate wayfarer。
Many others laugh such tales to scorn。 It is certain that if such
attacks occur they are altogether exceptional； being indeed of such
extreme rarity that they may be entirely disregarded in practice。 I
should have no more hesitation in sleeping out in a wood where there
were cougars； or walking through it after nightfall； than I should
have if the cougars were tomcats。
Yet it is foolish to deny that in exceptional instances attacks may
occur。 Cougars vary wonderfully in size； and no less in temper。 Indeed
I think that by nature they are as ferocious and bloodthirsty as they
are cowardly； and that their habit of sometimes dogging wayfarers for
miles is due to a desire for bloodshed which they lack the courage to
realize。 In the old days； when all wild beasts were less shy than at
present； there was more danger from the cougar； and this was
especially true in the dark canebrakes of some of the southern States
where the man a cougar was most likely to encounter was a nearly naked
and unarmed negro。 General Hampton tells me that near his Mississippi
plantation； many years ago； a negro who was one of a gang engaged in
building a railroad through low and wet ground was waylaid and killed
by a cougar late one night as he was walking alone through the swamp。
I knew two men in Missoula who were once attacked by cougars in a very
curious manner。 It was in January； and they were walking home through
the snow after a hunt； each carrying on his back the saddle； haunches；
and hide of a deer he had slain。 Just at dusk； as they were passing
through a narrow ravine； the man in front heard his partner utter a
sudden loud call for help。 Turning； he was dumbfounded to see the man
lying on his face in the snow； with a cougar which had evidently just
knocked him down standing over him； grasping the deer meat； while
another cougar was galloping up to assist。 Swinging his rifle round he
shot the first one in the brain； and it dropped motionless； whereat
the second halted； wheeled； and bounded into the woods。 His companion
was not in the least hurt or even frightened； though greatly amazed。
The cougars were not full grown； but young of the year。
Now in this case I do not believe the beasts had any real intention of
attacking the men。 They were young animals； bold； stupid； and very
hungry。 The smell of the raw meat excited them beyond control； and
they probably could not make out clearly what the men were； as they
walked bent under their burdens； with the deer skins on their backs。
Evidently the cougars were only trying to get at the venison。
In 1886 a cougar killed an Indian near Flathead Lake。 Two Indians were
hunting together on horseback when they came on the cougar。 It fell at
once to their shots； and they dismounted and ran towards it。 Just as
they reached it it came to； and seized one； killing him instantly with
a couple of savage bites in the throat and chest； it then raced after
the other； and； as he sprung on his horse； struck him across the
buttocks； inflicting a deep but not dangerous scratch。 I saw this
survivor a year later。 He evinced great reluctance to talk of the
event； and insisted that the thing which had slain his companion was
not really a cougar at all； but a devil。
A she…cougar does not often attempt to avenge the loss of her young；
but sometimes she does。 A remarkable instance of the kind happened to
my friend； Professor John Bache McMaster； in 1875。 He was camped near
the head of Green River； Wyoming。 One afternoon he found a couple of
cougar kittens； and took them into camp； they were clumsy； playful；
friendly little creatures。 The next afternoon he remained in camp with
the cook。 Happening to look up suddenly he spied the mother cougar
running noiselessly down on them； her eyes glaring and tail twitching。
Snatching up his rifle； he killed her when she was barely twenty yards
distant。
A ranchman； named Trescott； who was at one time my neighbor； told me
that while he was living on a sheep…farm in the Argentine； he found
pumas very common； and killed many。 They were very destructive to
sheep and colts； but were singularly cowardly when dealing with men。
Not only did they never attack human beings； under any stress of
hunger； but they made no effective resistance when brought to bay；
merely scratching and cuffing like a big cat； so that if found in a
cave； it was safe to creep in and shoot them with a revolver。 Jaguars；
on the contrary； were very dangerous antagonists。
CHAPTER VI。
A PECCARY HUNT ON THE NUECES。
In the United States the peccary is only found in the southernmost
corner of Texas。 In April 1892； I made a flying visit to the ranch
country of this region； starting from the town of Uvalde with a Texan
friend； Mr。 John Moore。 My trip being very hurried； I had but a couple
of days to devote to hunting。
Our first halting…place was at a ranch on the Frio； a low； wooden
building； of many rooms； with open galleries between them； and
verandas round about。 The country was in some respects like； in others
strangely unlike； the northern plains with which I was so well
acquainted。 It was for the most part covered with a scattered growth
of tough； stunted mesquite trees； not dense enough to be called a
forest； and yet sufficiently close to cut off the view。 It was very
dry； even as compared with the northern plains。 The bed of the Frio
was filled with coarse gravel； and for the most part dry as a bone on
the surface； the water seeping through underneath； and only appearing
in occasional deep holes。 These deep holes or ponds never fail； even
after a year's drought； they were filled with fish。 One lay quite near
the ranch house； under a bold rocky bluff； at its edge grew giant
cypress trees。 In the hollows and by the watercourses were occasional
groves of pecans； live…oaks； and elms。 Strange birds hopped among the
bushes； the chaparral cocka big； handsome ground…cuckoo of
remarkable habits； much given to preying on small snakes and lizards
ran over the ground with extraordinary rapidity。 Beautiful swallow…
tailed king…birds wi