The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-12-19
MISC E L L A N Y i.
THE PANTHER SCENT.

H6 IOIiOWIbS IuutlHS otUIy WO nave
from friend of ours, who resides in the
upper par, Of this State. says the St Louis
Reyeille. 1t is more odd than extraordi-
nary, and we have no reason TO doubt i, =.
We give it as nearly as we can. in the
words of the relator:
don't know that YOU will credit what
/ am about 10 relate, but assure you it is
positive fact. Early one morning lasI
autumn started from home. shaping my
course for particular part of the wood
land some considerable distance from town,
where | fancied should find deer 10 a.
bundance. After reaching the spot, how
ever, and tramping il for few miles,
was weary and disappointed. l seated
myself on the trunk Of an old tree. which
was lying in my path, let the rife fall into
the hollow OF my arm, and listened TO the
melancholy signing of the wind as it pas
sed through the forest, until actually be-
gan 10 feel affected by it, and vas obliged
to consult that never failing oracle, which
generally bears folks company on such
expeditions. At last, starting up, l deter
mined 10 turn my course toward home,
which, in my wanderngs, | had left ma
ny miles behind. was just about carry
ing this determination into effect, when
beautiful fawn suddenly emerged from the
shick underground. not very remote from
my position, and trippingly came toward
me.
"In a moment old 'blazcway' was up
to my cheek, and the poor fawn lay well
tering in its blood. had hardly loaded,
before observed more ugly customer,
in the form of huge panther, with his
nose 10 the ground, smelling along in the
tracks OF the fawn. Phew felt chill.
ly sensation creeping over me, but | knew
it was no time to show the white feather
so, summoning up my resolution, waited
till Mr. Panther came within what con.
sidered deadly range, which was the body
ofthe dead fawn 10 tell the truth l didn'l
care about his coming much nearer -
The panther stopped when he reached the
carcass, and was about to crafty his taste,
when odd blaze away' spoke 10 him, and
lodgeda leaden pill somewhere in the
vicinity of The heart, for he 'keeled over
immediately, on the body of the fawn. and
after two or three convusive kicks, expi-
red.
II loaded again, and was about con.
graduating myself upon the success had
met with, when TO my utter establishment,
along came Panther No. 2, acting pretty
much after the fashion Of bis namesake,
No. |.
IL could hardly believe my senses.
rubbed my eyes, but there came the var
mii.t sure enough l felt little sick al
the stomach. for this kind of shooting
hadn't been prepared for; however, up
went sold blaze away and 10 my great
relief, down wen, the criter. My success
put me quite in spirits l thought ofthe
story | should have to tell on getting home;
relonded with grin and chuckle, and
was about 10 approach my game, when
my hair actually raised on nv head nv
jaw dropped, and sort Of preterLatural
terror took possession of me it was out of
the order of nature! | was haunted by
panthers! They could not be real; It
was the spor Of some hOrrid demon of the
forest - crouching, crawling. smelling
his way out of the same Identical opening
in the bush came panther No. 8 This
may appear nothing to mountain men, but
10 me, at the time, felt that one was a
dose! MI desperandumr by a sort Of
moral summons, called my spirilst 10 my
aid. [the oracle included,) raised my piece,
and just as the brute was lifting his head
pulled trigger--he gave short bound
and fell on the top of the heap! My nerves
relaxed. and fell, almost as suddenly, on
a log, my eyes fixed on the opening. fully
expecting another visitor, yet without the
self command to reload. It wasn't ordi>
nary iear--a sort Of supernatural cloud
had settled round my thoughts, and facul-
lies were not themselves. / loaded, at
length, still gazing in expec ialion, but no
more came; and, without touching my
spoils, took my departure for home. BY
this time it was near shutdown, and before
4 Paaehad the ekiPta of tho V,ooda tho