an's leg. Once he escaped, and dashed on to the ramparts,
where he caused a scene of confusion which was quite laughable; the
sentinels fled, the officers closed their doors, the castle gates were
shut; but when he was tired of his scamper, the playful beast quietly
laid himself down under a gun carriage, and suffered his attendant to
lead him away. At last he was allowed to roam at large, orders being
given to prevent his going beyond the gates; and the boy was desired not
to leave him. He, however, often fell asleep, on which occasions Sai
would come stealthily behind him as he sat upright, and knock him over
with a blow from his paw, when he wagged his tail with delight. His
principal amusement was to stand on his hind legs, his fore paws resting
on the sill of one of the windows, his chin between them, and there
contemplate all that was going on in the town below. But this was also a
favourite pastime with my uncle's children; and there was not always
room for all, so they often pulled him down by the tail, and took his
place, without exciting his anger. His attachment to my uncle was very
great, and he chiefly lived in his room. He missed him one day when he
was holding a great palaver in the hall, and wandered about in search of
him. The multitude prevented the panther from seeing his friend, and he
wandered to other parts of the castle, among others to my room, where he
laid himself down with a disconsolate look. The palaver over, the
Governor returned to his room to write, and the door being open, he
heard Sai coming slowly up the stairs. The panther started when he saw
the object of his search, and as he made one bound across the room, my
uncle gave himself up for lost; but the affectionate creature nestled
his head into his master's shoulder, rubbed his cheek against him, and
only tried by caresses to evince his happiness. He was very fond of
hiding himself under one of the sofas in the hall, where a rustling
noise, a protruding paw, or an occasional peep from behind the cover,
alone betrayed his presence. The Governor was once entertaining some
officers from Elmina, when, in the midst of an animated discussion, they
both turned pale, and stopped speaking. Their host looked up--"I beg
your pardon," said one of them, "but are you aware what animal is now
lying under that sofa?" "Sai," said my uncle, "come and speak to these
gentlemen." The panther walked up to them, and both darted behind the
Governor, nor did th