Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1844-10-26
THE PANTHER SCENT.

he following hunting story we nave
from friend of ours who resides in
the upper part of this State. II is
more odd than extraordinary, and we
have no reason TO doubt it, We give
it, as nearly as we can, in the words
of the rclater:-- Reuiiile.
Il DON'T know that you will credit
what | am about TO relate, but, assure
you that il is positive fact. Early
one morning last autumn, | started
from home, shaping my course for a
particular part of the woodland, some
considerable distance from town,
where, fancicd should find deer in
abundance. After reaching the spot,
however, and hamping it for few
miles, | was weary and disappointed.
| seated myself on the trunk ofan old
tree, which was laying in my path, let
my rife fall into the hollow ofmy arm,
and listened TO the melancholy signing
of the wind, as it passed through the
forcsL until | actually began TO feel af-
lccttd by it, and~as obliged to con-
suit that nevcr-fa falling oracle, which
generally bears folkl company in such
expeditions. Atlast, starting up, ! de-
tcrmincd TO turn nj course towards
home, which, in my wanderings, | left
many miles behind. ] was just about
carrying this determination into effect,
when a beautiful fawn. suddenly en-.
crgcd from the thick underground, not
very remote from my position, and
trippingIy came towards me.
.'ln moment old 'blazcaway' was
up to my check, and the poor fawn lay
wcltcring in its blood. ! had hardly
loaded, before observed a more ugly
customer, in the form of ahuge panther,
with his nose to the ground, smelling
along in the tracks Of tie iawn.-
Phcw! / felt "A chilly sensation creep
ing over me, but knew it was no time
to show the "whitc feather" so, sum.
moning up my resolution, waited till
Mr.. Panther came within what ]
considered deadly range, which was
the body ofthc dead fawn-to tell the
truth, didn'nt care about his coming
much nearer! The panther stopped
when he reached the carcase and was
about to CRAFTY his taste, when old
'blazcaway, spoke to him, and lodged
"A lcadcn pill some where in the yicin-
ity of his heart, for he 'kcclcd over
Immediately, on the body OF the fawn,
and, after two or three conyulsivc
kicks, expired.
IL loaded again, and was about
congratulating myscIfupon the success
had met with, when, to my utter
astonishmcnt, along come Panther No.
., acting pretty much after the fashion
of his namcsakc. MOL.
81 could hardly believe my senses,
] rubbed my eyes, but there came the
varmint sure enough! ] felt little
sick at the stomach, for this kind of
shootingI hadn't been prepared for;
however, up went old blazcaway,' and,
to my great relief, down went the crit
ter. My success put me quite in
spirits, thought Of the story ] should
have to tell on getting home; reloaded
with grin and a chuckle, and was
about to approach my game when
my hair actually raised on my head
my jaw dropped, and a sort of prefer
natural terror took possession Of me
II was out of the order of nature! ]
was haunted by panthcrs! They could
not be real, it was the sport Of some
horrid demon Of the forestl-crouch.
ing, crawling, smelling MS way, out
Of The same identical opening IN the
bush, came panther No. ), This may
appear nothing 70 mountain men, but
- no attn ..--.o TEftth1t ono was