Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-12-14
now relate it to you as near as lean in the Ian
II. "a Il

w" ASi@oS Az w IOH "' hOaA 10 tS~H III A"ti
guage of the old settler himself \
81 listened every moment" nid he, Z" and i:
was repeated even louder, and ! seemed nearer
than before My first though was for my own
safety. But what was to dol 1t was at least
ten miles from home, and therf was not singlt
human being. nearer than that to me. neSh
thought Of self-defence, but b,d nothing to de-
fend myself with. In d moment concluded to
start for home, for | knew tie nature of the
catamountttoo we'll to think lshould stand the
least chance of escape if remained in camp.
| knew too that he would ranfack my camp and
Lhoped the meat which | leftbehind might sat
isfy his appetite, so that he might NOT follow me
after catingit.
81 had not proceeded moro than half nils
before knew, by the shrieEs Of the animal,
that he Was within sight of the camp. Ldout
led my spoad, content that the animal should
have my supqor; although dscaesAl would
not haveruh II had mE.tt ,E u lth ess-~
Bnstbege q osis. d. no ee I sssn.ne ss.n7 .
IroMlau fniufAs.tSu ottahiV s-1oef'
probably by being hungry lsthing
that could be called VI 'Ssase a
pocket knife. ~
g l had proceeded, probably, about two thirds
af tao 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, which
hoped had satisfied the monster Just as had
CONS to the conclusion that would run no
more, and was looking back, astonishcd almost
at the distance had travelled in 80 short 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,
ate the meat and followed after Inc. 1t wss
about three miles to my cabin, and it had al
ready become dark. redcubled my speed, but
! thought must die. And such death The
recollection of TINT feeling comes to my mind as
wildly as though knew the animal was now
! pursuing me. am no coward, though to BE-
torn to pieces and almost eaten alive by II wild
beast was horrible.
81 calmly unbuttoned my frock, with tho de-
termination to throw it 9G before the beast
should approach me, ping.thereby to gain ad-
vantagcs by the time he would lose in tearing il
to pieces.
"Anothcr shriok and / tossed the garment
behind me in the path Not more than FIVE
minutes elapsed before heard a shrill cry as he
came to it. How tina. shrek electrified me
bounded like u deer. But in moment the an-
imal made another cry, which told me plainly
that my garment had only ezasperated biu to a
fcrcer chase.
"Oh, God said |, and must die thus |
cannot, | must live for my wife and children ;
and run even faster than Ind lone before,
and unbul.oning my waistcoat dropped it in
the path as proceeded. The thoughts Of my
wife and children urged ms to Jho most dosper-
ate speed. for sLought s.ieTct Of th.ir pnrro-
tected state than the deathN Was threatened
with. Should I die, what woald become OF
them
In a moment the whole events of my lilt
crowded through my brain The catamoun
shrieked louder, and fast as was running h,
rapidly approached INC. Nearer and nearer ht
came, until fancied could hear his bounds
At last | came to the brook which you see yon
der, which was double its present cize, being
swollen by recent freshets, and lougcd to coo
my feyerod brain in it but knew hat woult
be rs certain death as to die by the claws of thi
beast. With three bounds gained the oppo
site bank, and then could clearly sooa light il
my cabin, which was not more than hundre,
yards distant.
= 81 had proceeded but short distance when
heard the plunge of the catamount behind me
leaped with more than human energy; for i
was life OF death. Ina mom9nt the catamoun
gave another wild shriok, las though he wa
afraid he should lose hjs prey. AT that nstan
yelled at the top Of my voice to my wife, an,
in u moment saw her approach the door Will
u light.
With whG4 yividncss that moment comes tt
u my mind The catamount WAS not SO far from
me as was from the house Idroppod my hat
the only thing could Leave to stay the progress
of the beast. The next momsnt fell prostrat
e in my own cabin"
Here the old man paused, ana wiped the bi,
5 drops from his brow, ere he continued.
How long I laid after fell, know no.!
but when was reused to consciousness, [ wa
lying on my rude couch, and my wife was bath
b. ing my head with cold water, and my childre
t, were gazing anxiously at me. Ny wife told IN
that as soon as fell, she immediately shut tn
door and barred it, for she knew that | was pul
'r sued, but by whom 9r~!rhat she knew not; an
y that as soon as I had fallen and the door CLOSED
!, fearful spring was made upon it, but the doc
RS was strong and well barred, and withs!ood IL
Is spring of the beast
ie /" AS soon us l recovered, | knelt down m
it offered the most fervent prayer to the Almight
e, that ever crossed my lips, or ever will agai
S. My family and myself shortly retired, but I
is sleep visited me that night In the nornin
W when my little son, six years old, told me ill.,
ty hosaw the eyes of the colt in the window in Il
ut night know the catamount had been watchir
lie to gain admittance; but our windows, YOU vi
It. perceive, are not large enough to permit cat
ld mount to enter.
el "When looked into the glass the noxt NOR
n ing, was horror-struck at my altered appea
to ance My hair, which the day before was da
We as midnight, was changed to the snowy whit
u ness Jon now see; and, although have enjoy
he very good health since, lshall never recover lc
n the effects of the fright experienced on bei
chased by y oatamount,"
/ "A