Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-01

craWled up, ana St0Ou croucheu III 'no m"Plo
crotch, and, at wink from Len, followed
him half dozen rods up the hill. Tom stood
alone behind large hemock, and as soon as
we had taken our position, sighted steadily up
at the threatening brute and fired. True to the
well known habits of the catamount, the in
slant the piece was discharged, he leaped like
a monster cat, and pounced down upon the very
tracks Tom had sttod in Tom understood the
game too well to be caught SO, and tile moment
that he pulled the trigger he logged around the
tree just soon enough TO hit the monster with
his knife. Instead of striking him in the back,
however, as We expected, he mounted him,
grasping fore leg in each hand. 1t was well
done in an instant, and without waiting for the
signal which Tom had ordered, Len and imme-
dately sprang to his assistance But Tom, stout
and wiery as be was, had lniscalculated his
strength this time the huge animal at the frat
effort throwing him over and standing threaten
ingly over him. Len and paused, expecting
every moment to see Toms face mangled with
his brawny jaws.
The animal then presented fair mark, with
no danger of hitting Tom, and levcled my
rifle to shoot, but was prevented by Toms turn
ing suddenly over, and rising on his hands and
knees The next moment the catamount seized
hin by the neck and dragged him quickly down
little bank and disappeared around a clump
of hemlocks. | turned to Leonard, and saw
that the horror of the sight had completely un
nerved him. For myself, felta strange SEN
sation creep over me, u kind of cold, chilly
shudder, but shook it off, and spoke to Leon
ard to follow, and started Immediately at
quick pace around the point after them. 1t was
raining all the time, and we were wet to the
skin, and the ground had become soaked and
slippery, 50 that our progress was slow down the
bank, and as bad luck would have it, slipped
and Tell, which delayed US little MORE and
when we got down they were no where to be
seen. We started on at a quick run, and fol-
lowed up the brook for several rods, without
finding any trace of either.
Leonard, said l. stopping suddenly, what
shall we do
Something, we must do something, he said,
nervously.
We must find him; but we are wrong.
They couldn't have gone so far as thip.'
No think not | believe not Oh my
God, poor Tom,' he said, looking anxiously
around in every direction.
We must turn back and search more thor
oughly; you take circle around up the hill,
and | will do the same this way, and we will
meet where we started, said, hastily turning
off to the left, and searching back down the
brook.
In fifteen minutes VIC met again down at the
point first agreed upon, but neither Of us had
seen anything Of the missing man.
He is gone said Leonard we shall never
find him.
1t is singular
Poor Josephine-who will tell her? we must
find him. Ralph, cannot leave the woods wi th.
out knowing his fate
We know that we'll enough, Leonard, but
still he mustbo found. If you will 60 down to
Col. Wheeer's and give the alarm, will con-
tnue the search alone until you get back with
more help. You can ride the mare down in a
few minutes
Hark
He is ahue. 1t was his voice, come on, |
said hastily, lelding the way around the base
OF the hill to the right In a few moments the
sound was repeated, coming from over ledgy
ridge in the direction we were going.
1t is Tom, said Len, pushing by me in his
hot haste, 1t is Tom. Come on
We reached the top of the ridge in few
minutes and stopped to look and listen before
venluring further.
Hulloo-why don't you come on
1t was Toms voice again, coming through
the thick bushes, little to the right could
see the tears standing in the eyes of Leonard
Kalhan, as he bounded forward again, perfect
ly delighted.
felt such confidence in Toms safety now
that was in no particular hurry. In a few
rods came in sight OF Tom sitting quietly upon
the dead body of tho catamount, smoking his
meerschaum as composedIy as though nothing
in particular had happened. Leonard was teel-
ing away ut his neck declaring that he must he
bitten, he was bleeding.
Come don 4 make n fool of Yourself Len ;