The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-05-30

ranssck the camp. and hoped that the
meat which left might satisfy his np-
petite, so that he would not follow me
after eating it. I lid. not proceeded
more than half mile. Before knew by
the shriek of the animal, that he was in
sight of the camp l doubled my speed,
coutcnt that the animal should have my
supper, although declared | would not
have run if | had had my trusty rife
with me. But there would be no cow
arGico in my running from all infuriated
catamount, doubly furious. probably.
from being hungry, and nothing for q
weapon save a pocket knife.
Il had proceeded, probably about
two-tb;rds of the distance home. AND
hearing nothing more of the fearful en-
emy, began to slacken my pace. and
thought | had nothing TO fear. l had
left behind about two pounds ofraw beef
aud pork, which hoped had satisfied
the ferocious monster. Just as | had
come to the conclusion that l would rur
no more, and was looking back astonish
cd, almost, at the distance had travcl
led in SO short a space Of time. was c..
lectrificd with horror to hear the animal
shrek again
l then knew that my fears we're re-
allied. The boast had undoubtedly en-
tered the camp and eaten what be could
find. and then bad scented my track, and
had followed after me 1t was about
three miles to my log cabin. and it had
already become dark rcdoubled my
speed, but felt that | must die Ana
such death The recollection Of that
feeling comes to my mind as wildly as
though | knew the animal was now pur.
suing me- But am no coward; though
to be torn to pieces, and nlmos, eaten
alive by wild beast was horrible.
| calmly unbuttoned my frock, with
the determination to throw it off before
the animal should approach me, hoping
thereby to gain advantage of the time he
would lose III tearing it to pieces
Another shrick. and | tostcd the
garment behind me in the path Not
more than five minutes elapsed before |
heard shrll cry as he came to it. How
that shrek electrified ME bounded
like a deer. But in a moment the ami.
NAL mace another cry, which told mo
plainly that the garment had only exas.
pcrated him in a fie,ccr chase.
90, God" said I. "and must I die
thus cant, | must live for my wife
and children" and l even ran faster
than | had done before. and uubuttoning
my walstcoat, | dropped it in the path
as | proceeded. The thoughts Of my
wife and children urged me to the most
desperate speed. for l thought more of
their unprotected state. than the death
was threatened with, for. should die.
what would become of them2
In moment. the whole events of
my life crowded TO NV brain. The hot
blood coursed through my veins with a
torrents force. The catamount shricked
louder and louder. and fast as was
running. he was rapidly approaching me.
At last came to the brook. which YOU
see Wonder. and it was double the size
which it now is. for it was swollen by re.
cent frcshets and I lorgcd to cool nv
fevercd brain in it but | knew it would
he as certain death to me as to die by
tho claws Of the beast With three
bounds gained the opposite bank. and
then I could clearly SOC a light in nv
log cabin, which was no more than one
hundred rods distant.
81 had proceeded hut short distance
before heard the plunge Of the cata-
mount behind me. leaped with mora
than human energy. for it was life or
death. In a moment the cntnmount
gave another shrek. as though he was
afraid he would lose his. prey. At the
same instant l yelled a. the top Of my
voice to my wife and in moment saw
her approach the door with a lighted
candle
with what vividness the moment
comes to my mind The catamount was
not so far from me as | was from the
house I dropped my Eat the only
thing that l could leave to stay the
progress of the beast. The next mo-
ment | fell powerless in my own cabin" "
Hero tho old settler paused and wiped
the big drops from his brow orc he pro.
ceedcd
How long I laid when fell. know
not, but when was reused to conscious.
ness. | was lying on my rude couch and
my wife was bathing my head with cold
water, and my children wero gazing anx.
iously at me. Nv wife told me that
as soon as I fell she Immediately shut
the door and barred it, for what she
knew not and that as soon as I was fall
len and the door was closed, a fearful
spring was made upon it a; but tho door
was strong and well barred, and with.
stood the spring Of tho beast.
As soon as was fully discovered, I
knelt down and offered the most fcrvent
prayer to the Almighty that ever passed
ny lips or ever will again. Nv family
and myself shortly retired, but no sleep
visited Inc that night. In the morning,
when my little son. six years old. told me
that he saw the eyes of the colt in the
window in the night. I knew the oata.
mount had been watching to gain admit.
lance but our windows. you we'll per-
ceive, are not largo enough to permit
catamouut to enter
When | looked into the glass the nex,
morning. / was horror struck at nv al.
tered appearance. My hair, which the
day before was dark as midnight, was
changed to the snowy wilderness you now
see and olthough have enjoyed good
health since. l shall never recover from