It
was as nearly as possible the same color as the mastiffs, and
perhaps hardly stood so high; but he was a much heavier animal, and
longer in the back. The dogs sprang upon it. Prince, who was first,
received a blow with its paw, which struck him down; but Flora had
caught hold. Prince in an instant joined her, and the three were
immediately rolling over and over on the ground in a confused mass.
Mr. Hardy and Lopez at once leaped from their horses and rushed to
the spot; and the former, seizing his opportunity, placed his
pistol close to the lion's ear, and terminated the contest in an
instant. The animal killed was a puma, called in South America a
lion; which animal, however, he resembles more in his color than in
other respects. He has no mane, and is much inferior in power to
the African lion. They seldom attack men; but if assailed are very
formidable antagonists. The present one was, Lopez asserted, a
remarkably large one.
Mr. Hardy's first care was to examine the dogs. Prince's shoulder
was laid open by the stroke of the claws, and both dogs had
numerous scratches. Flora had fortunately seized him by the neck,
and he had thus been unable to use his teeth.
Mr. Hardy determined to return home at once, in order to dress
Prince's shoulder; and leaving Lopez to skin the puma, the rest
took their way back.
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