The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-06-23
THE DEAD SHOT By MooNLIGHr. I

| Not far from this village, where the foot
of a mountain spur is washed by the wa
tiers of the Delaware, in broad notch wall.
ed in on either hand by high, pIecipitous
masses of rock, surrounded by tall hem
! locks and pines-theFe was born and there
my early years were passed, and some
times think could sleep calmly there at
! life's weary day.
| About mile distant from our house,
and on the top of the mountain, lived I'm
! Gle Joe Wall, a sert Of by brid-half farmer,
half hunter and most singular genius
withal. He was tail. gaunt, round should
cred, with heavy stoop, and face about
the ugliest ever looked upon. He had,
| however, pair of the keenest and vet wild
/ est blue eyes that human soul ever looked
out of. Buckskin breeches, coarse linen
hunting shirt, martin skin cap and mecca
sins, constituted his usual attire. He was
skilled in every species of woodcraft, and
seemed born to walk she paths of the for
est Quick of the ear and eye, tread as
silent and as stealthy as that of cat, steady
of nerve, self-possessed beyond the power
of disturbance, and with command of the
rife such as few have ever attained, he was
clearly born hunter, and a most formida-
BILE adversary against which to contend
! And yet he was most kind and gentle
hearted man, full of quaint and quiet hu-
NOR, simple as child. and yet abounding
in all manly gifts. Everybody respected
and loved Uncle Joe, and at every cabin
fire-side was he a most welcome guest
His stories of border life, of adventures in
the wilderness, of encounters with wolves
and the ferocious cougar. were full of thrill
ling interest. And he told these stories as
no other man could tell them-in few and
simple words, without establishment, and
yet so told that you were thrilled and fas-
cinated, and listened with almost breathless
attention.
On clear, sunny afternoon in October,
10, Uncle Joe and left my fathers house
for the purpose of attending ''logging bee''
to which we had been invited by neigh
Dor, five or six miles away-he on foot and
on horseback. Our way lay round the
base of the 'spur'' which l gave mention,
where a road had been excavated, and thence
back from the river, and along the eastern
side of the "spur" to the place. of destina-
ton. Not clearing or solitary cavern in
tervened. The grand old woods, cleft here
and there at considerable intervals by some
pioneer settlement, or the "chopping'' of
an adventurous emigrant, stretched with its
deep solitudes and dark shadows for hun
dred miles on every side. Here roamed the
wild deer, the wolf and bear, and the cata-
mount, as yet scarcely disturbed by the
sounds Of advancing civilization. How Of
ten have | lain by the hunters fire among
the mountains, and during the long watch
es of the winters night, listened to the
howl of the wolf, the crashing tread of the
black bear, and the scream of the panther.
But this is not my story.
The logging bee'' over, plain but sub
stautial snpper was served, of which veni
son and rye biscuit formed the staple, and
which in the eating detained the company
until after dark. Then followed the ''par-
ting drink" the ''good night" and home
ward journey through the woods. Uncle
Joe and were the last to leave, for he new
er was IN hurry when good cheer was to
be had, and 1t was nine o'clock before we
set out for home. And when we did final
ly start, Uncle Joe after rod or two of
earnest eDdeavor, found himself SO weak in
his walking sticks, that he was obliged to
mount behind me: and thus carrying doub-
lie, our good horse was left to his own gui-
dance through the dark paths Of the forest.
The old hunter grew more and more top
heavy as we proceeded at slow pace along
the tortuous and uneven road, and but for
unceasing effort on my part aided by his
| long legs, we would have been endorsed at
almost every step.
We had accomplished half our Journey,
and were riding in silence unbroken save by
the tread of the animal which we bestrode,
when the cry of panther came sounding
down to us on the night breeze from up the
side of the mountain. This was so COM
mon that it scarcely aroused my compan-
| ion, and the distance at which it was utter
ed prevented apprehension On my part.
Not more than minute had elapsed before
that shrill, mournful wall again broke upon
! the ear, and from point that indicated
with an appalling certainty that the animal
was descending upon our path.
ga panther" said Uncle Joe, between a
grunt and drawl; ''and the critter seems
to be coming this way
Yes 1 replied, "and should Judge
from his scream that hunger was driving
him to seek a supper"
Scarcely had uttered these words, and
gathered up the reins for the control of my
now thoroughly frightened horse, than the
terrible cry was repeated in closer proximi-
ty, and the panther was heard approaching
US in long and crushing leaps down the
mountains side.
Uncle Joe by this time was completely
aroused from his stupor--he sat more erect
and firmly, and the rifle was brought down
from his shoulder and grasped tightly in
his right hand.
1--WE are in for it, my boy said he, in
low hushed tone; ''its run or fight. and
fight I guess: anyway we'll try the first.
and if so be that we can keep out of the claws
of the critter till the moon gifts up over the
tops of the trees, perhaps we shall be all
safe if we come to the last
| Run it was for the next ten or fifteen min
utes, with such speed as we could COM
mand over rough road, when with scream
and bound, the bloodthirsty pursuer
sprang from ledge of rocks into the clear
path. short distance in our rear.
''Hold up" said Uncle Joe; we've done
up our running, and now the matter must
| be settled after another fashion. There, I'll
get off and try titles with the critter, and
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