The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-12-15

| would run no further, and was looking
back aslonished almost, at the distance
had travelled in so short space of time,
was electrified with horror to hear the ami.
NAL shrek again.
| al then knew my worst fears were re-
allied. The beast had undoubtedly en-
tered the camp and ate what he could find
and then had scented my track and follow
ed after me. was about three miles to
my log cabin, and it had already become
dark. redoubled my speed: but | fell
that must die. And such death The
recollection of that feeling comes to my
mind as wildly as though knew the ami
NAL was now pursuing me. But am no
coward, though to be torn in pieces, and
almost eaten alive by wild beast was
horrible
al calmly uubuttoned my frock, with
the determination to throw it off before
the beast should approach me, hoping
thereby to gain advantage of him by the
time he would be in tearing it into pie.
ces. .. .... ......
"Anosher shrek, and I tossed the gar
ment behind me in the path. Not more
than FIVE minutes elapsed before heard a
shrill cry as he came TO it. How that
shrek electrified me | bounded like a
deer. But in a moment the animal made
another cry, which told me plainly that
the garment had only exasperated him to
a fercer chase.
40, God 7 said |, 'and mus, | die thus'
! can, mus: live for my wife and chill
dren,' and ran even faster than had
done before, and unbuttoning my waist
coat, dropped it in the path as | proceed
ed. The thought OF my wife and children
urged me to desperate speed for | thought.
more Of their unprotected state than the
death was threatened with, for, should |
die, what would become of them
"'In moment the whole events of my
life crowded through my brain. The ho,
blood coursed through my veins with tor
rents force The catamount shrieked
louder and louder, and fast as was run
ming, he was rapidly approaching me-
Nearer and nearer he rame, until ! fancied
could hear his bounds. At last came 10
the brook which you see yonder, and it
was double the size which it is now, for
it was swollen by recent freshe.s, and !
longed to cool my fevered brain in it: but
! knew that would be as certain death to
me as to die by the claws Of the beast
With three bounds | gained the opposite
bank, and then ] could clearly see a light
in my log cabin not hundred rods dis.
tant.
al had not proceeded but short dis
tancc, before heard the plunge of the cat.
amount behind me. | leaped with more
than human energy, for it was now life
and death. In moment, the catamount
gave another wild shrek, as though he was
afraid he should lose his pray. A, the
same instant,l yelled at the top of my lungs
to my wife. In moment saw her ap.
proach the door with light.
"With what vividness that moment
comes back to my mind The catamount
was not so far from me as was from the
house. | dropped my hat, the only thing
| could leave to stay the progress Of the
beast. The next moment fell PROSTATE
in my own cabin
"Here the old settler paused, and wiped
the big drop, from his brow ere he con,in-
ued
"'llow long | lay when | fell know
not, but when was restored TO conscious
ness. | was lying on a rude coach, and |
my wife was bathing my head with cold |
water, and my children were gazing anx-
iously at me. My wife told me that a,
soon as | fell she Immediately shut the
door and barred it, for she knew that |
was pursued: but BY whom or what she
knew not, and that as soon as had fallen |
and the door closed, fearful spring was
made upon it but the door was strong |
and we'll barred, and withstood the spring |
OF the beast.
"'As soon as fully recovered, knell
and offered the mos, fervsnt prayer to the
Almighty that ever passed my lips, or ever
will again. My family and myself shortly |
retired bu,no sleep visited me that night. |
In The morning, when my little son six |