Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-06-06
The Panther FOiled.


NARROW ESCAPE OF AN OLD HUNTER.
Old Ben Wheaton, who lived in Briel
Valley, about two miles from the Susque
hannah River, was an inveterate lover ot
forest sports. He, like most of the early
settles of Otsego, had selected farm
from the hill lands, leaving the broad
swamp flats for hunting grounds. His
shanty was erected on a small stream in
Brier Valley, which is now called, after
mis- name, Wheaton Creek. The most of
his time was expended in journeys through
the forest, frequently in company with a
far-famed Mohawk Indian, named An
tone; but sometimes Ben loved to pursue
his sports without a companion. And
well he might, for he did not need guide.
Every nook, dell, crevice, and cave, from
the Otsego Lake to the mouth Of the Della
ware River, was familiar to Ben Wheaton,
and he had often pursued his game to
almost every part of that country. He
chiefly hunted the wolf, as we'll for profit
as for sport, for Government paid a silver
dollar in the shape of bounty, on every
| skin.
Bent upon increasing his store of coin,
oldBen, one fine summer morning, shonl-
dered his rifle, and taking his knacksack,
containing a sufficient supply of corncake
| and dried venison, he crossed the Sus-
quehannah, and took his way towards
Franklin Mountain, which lies between
the villages of Otsego and Franklin.
Tho "A vxyaS I.v,th he ti,po l.
had accomplished one-half the ascent of
the mountain, he concluded that he needs
ed rest. He therefore took seat upon
d moss-covered log, near spring, and ate
his luncheon. The still solitude, the
balmy air, together with the singniag of
birds, and the lazy hum Of the bee, finally
lulled the hunter to repose. He must
have slept long, for when he awoke the
sun was declining far westward, and
few ripples of golden light fingered on the
tree-tops, which he first noted after clear
ing a mass of dry leaves from his face,
which he thought had blown there; but in
attempting to rise, however, he discovered
himself completely buried in them.
Now, it is notorious fact that the pan
ther will cover a sleeping or dead body,
and leave it for time, but only eventual
ly to return and devour it. The instant
Ben awoke, therefore, the truth flashed
upon his mind that panther had found
and concealed him, and that the beast
might at that moment be watching him,
ready to make the fearful spring. He
arose quickly, seized his rife, that rested
against tree, and hastily throwing togeS
ther some large pieces Of decayed wood,
and covering them with leaves, he climb
ed a tree and waited patiently the panther's
coming. He had not to wait long
Presently he saw it-a she one-stealing
along with cat-like tread, and with two
cubs behind her, which she hid in some
brushwood. Dropping herself on the
ground, she crept slowly towards her ex-
pected prey, lashing the earth with her
tail, and her eyes glowing like Goals of
fire! The appearance ofthings, however,
did not seem to satisfy her, but she sprang
up, elevated her back, and threw herself
upon her supposed victim with wild |
yell. The wood and leaves flew aboutin
every direction, and for moment the
panther seemed palsied by rage. SuiS
denly she Ieaped aside, dropt her tail, and |
peered around among the brushwood;
then raising her eyes upwards, Fairly |
emitting sparks of fire in her anger she
encountered the hunters gaze fixed upon
her. With another screech more terrible
than the FIRST, she prepared to spring to-
wards him, when with an aim that seldom
failed, old Ben fired, and she fell, tearing
the earth with her claws. The shot was
fatal.
Our adventurous hunter reloaded the
empty barrel, and waited for her compan-
ions to come up, but none arrived, SO he
killed the cubs, and built fire. This
was necessary proceeding, for the sun
had set, aud the darkening shadows of
night were creeping into the landscape.
With true backwoods audacity, he relied
upon his fire for protection from further
uuadrupedal providers, and stretching
himself, with his feet to the burning wood,
on the leaves that had before covered him,
he once more resigned himself to the en-
brace of Morpheus. He often afterwards |