The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-07-30

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ing broader space for the stream ant
the winding road Thick bushes, prin
cipally birch and alder, grew at either side
of the path, and at about the centre o
the level, a tall, bare, and fearfully
gnarlcd oak lowered high above, throw.
ing one k otty and crooked limb entrol,
across the road
At this place we paused. 1t was tho
only spot we had found where we coulC
keep within sight of each other and still
be some little distance apart.
Jones stationed himself at the lower
end Of the level, while took my place
above him, just at the point where a
sudden curve ana ascent hid the road
beyond from sight.
Our eyes had become accustomed to
the darkness and our ears to the gurgle
and splash of the waters. We could sec
each othe S outline, and could hear each
others steps when we occasionally
changed places.
Here we stood or sauntercd while the
night grew older.
At length | took out my watch. BY
dlnt Of Il long scrutiny had made the
time be fifteen minutes past eleven.
L was putting it up when l heard a
low lIish /" from Jones.
What do you hear 2" whispered,
clutching my rife.
l hear rustling in the bushes just
beside me -
| was not frightened, but chill ran
through me, and felt myself shiyering
from head to foot.
DO you see anything?'
81 see the brush bending and swaying
some animal is creeping past me on
its BELLY" Jones retrcated across the
road, facing dense patch Of brush, and
raising his gun.
"For Gods sake, don't fire till you
see the creature plainly"
Jones put down his gun, ana | stole
towards him.
lpaused. l could hear it now, gliding
through the brush, and breaking an oc-
casional dead twig. Very little noise,
though.
Now | saw it; dark body slowly
approaching the spot where | stood, but
never in plain view, from the thick
underbrush about it.
There was a heavy plunge through the
brush, followed by a plaSh in the brook.
Jones had thrown u large stone at the
slow-moying shadow.
We had not noticed till that instant
that we had followed the movement in
the bushes to the foot Of the gnarlcd oak
but we were aware of it then.
FOR, with a fearful cry between a growl
and the Kissing snarl of cat, large
animal gIidcd up the tree and out upon
the branch just over us.
Daylight could not have made it
palmer.
ltcIouchcd upon the limb with flashing
eyes and white fangs cleaning from the
dIstcndcd mouth--its short, thick tai!
waving from side to side its back
bumped, with each particular hair stand
ING Oh end with rage, and its cycr-cbang-
ing, savage face slancing from one to
the other.
" Z polh stepped BACK, and, at the
motion, a cry, the most savage l ever
beard, came from the terrible creature
above us.
l believe it had determined to spring
upon me
1t drew lis legs up under it, and
turned its hideous countonanco full upon
me.
Still stepping back, l raised my rifle,
and at that instant Jones fired.
The beast slid around the branch and
hung by its forcpaws, uttcring cry after
cry OF pain.
1t hung for half-moment, dropped
into the road, and turned with indiscyib-
bic fury upon me.
But it vas too late. 1t had scarcely
touched the ground when | had u bullet
through its brain, and the terror Of the
long hollow " was no more