The North-Carolinian., 1856-09-06
NORTH CAROLINIAN.
A Panther Hunt In Kentucky.
EIYETTE VILLE, ~.

kentucky State, SENDS US the IofO"iHS EdnuOM
sketch of one of his army hunting adventures.
which will be found repIete with the true sports
man-spirit We shall he pleased to hear from
the writer again. He must be one of the verita-
bile Hunters of Kentucky that We used to read
of (and sing of in Woodworth's popular song.
In my winter-home in the tangled wilds of the
far Arkansas, during the last months of 1852, /
er's lfe seeking in the exciting aud invig0ratr
ing chase, to recruit constitntioa
not shattered by Tire tl;ssii rtec9ed
ing summer. Early bright morning in
November, I cheerily wound my horn, as It
summoned forth for the huntthe eager, high
bred pack, who burst from their kennels in
tumultuous JOY, making the old primeval woods
ring with loud and deep-mouthed. bayings. Old
Croat the leader and sire of more than half
the pack. 1t seemed as if age had only steeled
the wiry muscles of his long black form, and
and clearer and more sonorous tone to his ring
ing notes. And Beauty, too, named from her
symmetrical and slender proportinns, was with
out exception the most perfect model OF the
high-bred stag-hound that | ever beheld. Her
thn wide legs, deep chest, short delicate muz-
zle and bright expressive eyes, at once cha-
lenged admiration and proclaimed her Queen OF
the Canine Race. And Old Warrior, with
privileged boldness, came up and rubbed his
cold nose against my hand, If to show that
although his name was nobly earned from many
was scanned with many scar he was still the
heetest in the chase, the foremost i" the light.
Impatient at the delay of my faithful body
guard John, who was as fine specimen OF the
Kentucky slave as one would wish to see-s:x
feet in his socks, and brave & lion--I walked
round the stable to ascertain the cause OF SO
unusual an occurrence. Reared from childhood
in the arms of my boy, l was attached to him
by common feelings, especially as he lad
twice saved my life at the risk af his own. He
would have died without murmur at my COM
lnand and it ordinary offence that
could call forth for him argy reproof. AS l
neared the stable John slowly led forth mag
the earth, as if as eager as his master, for the
approaching chase. l turned toward the negro
somewhat sternly exclaiming:
Where's Medora l ordered her, not Alp
'Deed Mass Frank, said John, l could not
h clip it but Medora's got out and gone. Use
been hunting her all night.
The mare had escaped in the darkness, and
made for the woods, and the poor fellow, Know
ing the explosion which must follow the an
nouncem cnt of her loss had toiled the entire
night in the vain attempt to recover her. In
a burst of passion, l demanded
Which way did she go?
Up toward the clearing.
BY Heaven! then she is gone! The panthers
are az thick As. Quick Saddle your
horse, and bring me my revOlvers!
Just as the negro had disappeared on his
errand and had mounted the impatient steed,
my father hale old man of sixty, came to the
cabin door and asked
Where now Frank
After Medora, l replied. She's got out and
gone toward the clearing. The FATHERS may
have her before now.
You had better take rifle and dogs You
may need them.
No; want my dogs fresh for the big buck,
and my rifle will hinder me in riding through
the brush.
Well! have yonr own way-but you may re-
gret it.
But my blood was up, and John just then
handing me my Colts and mounting his horse,
l dashed over the picket in the direction of the
clearing. The clearing was a large bottom
tract, which had some years before, been swept
10y fire, and was now covered with low Dense
underwood, here and there dotted by a hardy
old tree. halfburnt and gnarled, but defying
alike the influence of fire and Of time
After few moments hard riding hearing an
exclamation from the negro. l turned and
saw, close to our heels, the three dogs, Croat,
Warrior, and Beauty. Struck by so unusual
breech of their training, and remembering my
fathers admontion, cried out to John
Let them alone we may want them
On nearing the outer edge of the clearing
Alp reared and snorted, while his glossy name
seemed to stand erect with fright Straight
before me lay the body of my matchless Medora,
but torn and bleeding with wound in the
neck, too plainly pointing out the perpetrator
of her death. Yet, there she lay, drained Of
her life-bood by the hungry panther she
whom had often skinned the fashionable
thorofares of the West, envied of my light
limbed barb she who, twice within a day, had
borne me ever the Mssssipp; she with whom
L wonld have shared my only crust, lay cold and.
dead. Alp bent down his head and snuffcd the
lacerated form, and then sent forth sbrilI
piercing neigh, as if in sorrow for his peerless
mate.
| Understanding at glance the cause of her
death. grief gave place to a feeling of revenge,
and wildly cheering the hounds, swept on to-
ward the wood knowing that there the panther
had crouched until evening, when it would
| again come forth to banquet on its slaughtered
prey. The animals seemed to divine my feel
ings. and dashed mady on upon the warm and
recent trail while Alp cleared with his tremeI,-
dous bounds the brush and underwood with
which the earth was covered
We had proceeded hut short distance when
/ beheld the panther's back, as he sprang over
the impediments in his course as lightly as If
they were only the long grass of the prairie.
Twice did attempt to wound him with my re-
volvers, but the distance was too great, and
bitterly did l regret the absence of my rife.
l Gannt, and only rendered more savage by his
I taste of blood the panther maintained his dis
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