The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-09
TRICKING A PANTHER.

Valley, about two miles from the Susuue-
hanna river, was an invetcrate lover Of for
est sports. He, like most of the early
settlers of Otsego, had selected farm from
the hill lands, leaving the broad swamp
lands for hunting grounds. Ills shanty
was erected on small stream in the Briar
Valley, which is now called after his name,
Wheaton Creek. The most of his time
was expended i'll journeys through the for
ests, in company with a far-famcd Mohawk
Indian, named Atom, but sometimes Ben
loved to pursue his sports without COM
panion. And well lie might, for he did not
need a guide. Every nook, dell, crevicc
and cave, from the Otscgo Lake to the
mouth Of the Delaware river, was familiar
to Ben Wheaton, and he had often pursued
his game TO almost every part Of that coun-
try. lie chiefly hunted the wolf, as well
for profit as for sport, for government paid
silver dollar in the shape of IL bounty, on
every skin.
Bent OH increasing his store Of coin, old
Ben, one fine summer morning, shouldcrcd
his rifle, and taking his knapsack contain
ing sufficient supply of corn cake and
dried venison,T he crossed the Susquel.anna,
and took his way towards Franklin Noun
tain, which lies between the villages Of OF
sego and Franklin. The day was sultry,
and by the time he accomplished one-half
the ascent of the mountain, lie concluded
that he needed a rest. lie therefore took a
seat upon moss covered log, near spring,
and ate his luncheon. The still solitude,
the balmy air, together with til singing of
the birds, and the lazy hum of the bee,
finally lulIcd the hunter TO repose. lie
must have slept long; for when he awoke
the sun was declining far westward and a
few ripples of golden light fingered on the
tree tops, which he first noted after clearing
mass Of dry leaves from his face, which
he thought had blown there; but in at
tempting to rise, however, lie discovered
himself completely buried in them.
Now, it is notorious fact, that the PAN
her will cover a sleeping or dead body, and
leave it for time, but only eventually to
return and desour it. The instant Ben
awoke, therefore, the truth flashed upon his
mind, that panther had found and con-
.cealed him, and the animal might at that
moment be watching him ready to make
the fearful spring. lie arose quickly, seized
bis rifle that rested against tree, and has
tily throwing:together some large pieces of
decayed timber, and covering them with
leaves, he climed tree and waited patient
ly tho panthcr's coming. lie had not 10
wait long. Presently he saw it-a she one
stealing along with cat-likc tread,
which she hid i'll some bruslwood. Drop
ping herself on the ground, she crcpt slowly
towards ,.lcr expected prey, lashing the
earth with her tail, and her eyes glowing
like Goals Of fire. The appearance of things,
however, did not seem TO satisfy her, but
she spang up, elevated her back, and threw
herself upon her supposed victim with a
wild yell. The wood and leaves flew about
i'll every direction, and for moment the
panther seemed paIsied with rage. Sud-
denly she sprang aside, dropped her tail,
and peered around among the brushwood j;
then raising eyes upward, she encountered
the hunters gaze fixed upon her. With
another screech, moro terrible than the first,
she prepared to spring. when, with an aim
that seldom failed, old Ben fired, and she
fell, tearing the earth with her claws. The
slot was fatal.
Our adventurous hunter reloaded the
empty barrels, and waited for her compan-
ions to come up; Aut none arrived, SO he
killed the cubs and built n fire. This was
a necessary proceeding, for the sun had Set,
and the darkening shadows of night was
creeping into the landscape. With true
backwoods audacity, he relied on his fire
for protection from quadrupedal ,prowlers,
and stretching himself with his feet to the
burning wood, on the leaves that had before
covered him, he once more resigned him.
self to the embrace of Morpheus. He Of.
ten afterwards characterized the escape as
the narrowest one he. had ever expert
eReed.
81" Mother, don't you wish you, had the
tree ofsevilin your gardengn .,S' , 81
ss''Wby Josh, you sarpent, what do. yo,,
mean I" -. >i-'''s' t''s Sss Y
= As money j the root Of all evil, f Ne
i had the d tree, ceussd se get slF Ft6epte,
e Dob you pesky varai Sssss 81 III.
4 ting too smart emf 4 that cosasa i
Of scndin' boys t6mac adspiis g. & s. z @ s. &