New Orleans daily crescent., 1854-12-25

he was within sight Of the camp. doubled my Il
speed, content that the beast should have my l
supper; although declared would not have |
run if 4 had my trusty rifle with me. But there |
could be no cowardice in my running from an |
infuriated catamount, doubly furious, probably, |
BY being hungry, and with nothing that could
be called weapon, save pocket knife.
had proceeded, probably, about two thirds |
Of the distance home, and hearing nothing more
Of the fearful enemy, began to slacken my pace,
and thought had nothing to fear. had left |
behind about two pounds Of meat, beef and pork,
which hoped had satisfied the monster. Just
as had come to the conclusion that would
run no more, and was looking back, astonished
almost at the distance had travelled in SO short
q space of time, was electrified with horror to
! hear the animal shrek again
81 knew then that my fears were realized
The beast had undoubtedly entered The camp,
and ate, and followed after me. 1t was about
three miles to my log cabin, and it had already
become dark. Iredoubled my speed, but thought
must die. And such death The recollec-
ton Of that feeling comes to my mind as viyidly
as though knew the animal was now pursuing
me- But am no coward, though to be torn to
pieces and almost eaten alive by q wild beast
was horrible.
C / calmly unbuttoned my frock, with the de-
| termination to throw it off before the beast
should approach me, hoping thereby to gain ad
| vantages Of him by the time he would lose in
tearing it to pieces.
i" Another shrek, and tossed the garment
behind me in the path, Not more than FIVE
| minutes elapsed before heard shrill cry as
| he came to it. How that shrek electrified me !!
| bounded like deer. But in moment the
animal made another cry, which told me plainly
| that my garment had only exasperated him to
i q fercer chase.
! 80 God!' said I, g and must L die thus /
/ T mn live u,sifo 1chi idrnu -,
and ran even faster than had done before, and
unbuttoning my waistcoat, dropped it in the
path as proceeded. The thoughts of my wife
and children urged me to the most desperate
speed, for / thought more Of their unprotected
state than the death was threatened with, for
should die, what would become of them'
s In moment the whole events of my life
crowded through my brain. The oatamount
shrieked louder, and fast as I was running, he
rapidly approached me. Nearer and nearer he
came, until fancied | could hear his bounds
| At last came to the brook which you see yon-
| Ter, which was double its present size, being
tgwollen by recent freshets, and longed to cool
my fevered brain in it; but knew that would
beSas certain death as to die by the claws of
the beast. With three bounds / gained the
opposite bank, and then / could clearly see q
light in my log cabin, which was not more than
hundred yards distant.
4 81 had proceeded but o short distance when
| heard the plunge Of the catamount behind
me. leaped with more than human energy,
for it was life or death. In moment the
eatamount gave another wild shrek, as though
he was afraid he should lose his prey. At that
instant yelled at the top of my lungs to my
wife, and in moment saw her approach the
door with light.
'With what Vividness that moment comes to
my mind The eatamount 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 drops from his brow, ere he continued:
How long laid after fell know not but
when / was reused to consciousness was lying
on my rude couch, and my wife was bathing my
head with cold water, and my children we're
gazing anxiously at me. My wife told me that
as 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 as
soon as had fallen and the door closed, a fear
full spring was made upon it, but the door was
strongly and we'll barred, and withstood the
tspring of the beast.
.sAs soon as / recovered, knelt down and
offered the most feryent prayer to the Almighty
that ever crossed my lips, or ever will again.
My family and myself shortly retired but no
sleep visited me that night. In the morning,
AAoeAV JU1A5 Ot15
he saw the eyes of the colt in the window in the
night, / knew the catamount had been watching
to gain admittance; but our windows, you will
perceive, are not large enough to permit cata-
mount to enter.
"When / looked into the glass the next morn
ing, l was horror-struck at my altered appear
ance. My hair, which was the day before dark
as midnight, was changed to the snowy white
ness you now see and, although l have enjoyed
very good health since, shall never recover
from the effects of the fright / experienced Oh
being chased by catamount."