The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-06-06
Conbat Wan I Kangarpa.

-. SeAyet Wttn 0hnk -.
WHo that has looked on the mselr.
deer-like face of q kangaroo wonld
imagine that any danger could at.
tend o combat with so gentle . =
creature. Yet it is known dogs are
often killed by Il, the kangaroo
SEEING and hugging the dog With
its iront paws, while with one kick
OF its muscular hind leg It tips % !
ITS antogonist, and rips out "a 2
bowels. Even to o man there a 3
peril. One Of the hunters doen
had been thns dispatched, and s.
thus proceeds 50
"Exasperated by the irrepsrabla
loss OF my poor dog, and excited
~ the then uuusual scene before
me, ! hastened to have my revenge.
nothing doubling that, with one
fell swoop of my formidable club
my enemy would be prostrsfe at
my feet. Alasl the fates, and still q
more remorseless white ants. frus- =
tated my murderous intentions. and =
all but left me q victim 10 nv
strange and active foe. No sooner
had the heavy blow | aimed de-
scended on his head, than my
weapon was shivered into . thou
sand pieces, and ! found myself In =
thegiantembrace ofmy ntaeonist.
who was hugging me with rather
too warm Q demonstration offend
snip, and ripping at me In . way
not very pleasant. Ny only remain
Ing dog, too, was now thoroughly
exhausted by wounds and loss Of
blood, and apparently quite satisfied
OF her masters superiority, remain.
% mute and motionless spectator
OF the new and unequal contest.
Notwithstanding my utmost efEofts "
TO release myself from the grasp Of
tne brute, they were unayailing:.
ana l found my strength diminish
ing, while at the same time nv
sight was obscured by the blood q
which now flowed freely from Z
deep wound, extending from the.
pack part Of my head over the
whole length of my face. Iwas. ia
iact' becoming an easy prey, to the. q
Kangaroo, who continued to insert
with renewed vigor, bis talons IN
my breast; luckily, however, I was
protected by a loose, coarse canvas.
frock, which, in colonial phrase is
called q Jumper and but for which
must inevitably have shared the :
fate Of poor Trip. AS it was. i, !
had almostgi myself up for lost:
my head was pressed with surpass-
ngstrength beneath my adversary's
breast, and q faintness was rradu-
ally stealing over me, when I heard
q long and heart-stirring shout.
Was I to be saved? The thought
gave me new life; with increased
power Igrappled, and succeeded In
casting from me my determined
zoe; and, seeing tree close at hand.
made desperate leap to secure ia
shelter and protection. ! reached
and clung to it for support. wban
the sharp report of a rife was heard
IN I my ear, and the bark, about
three inches above nv head was
penetrated by the bali. Another
shot followed, with amore sure aim.
and the exasperated animal, (now
once more within reach of me,l (.
rolled heavily on its side. On the
parties nearing, I found them to be
my brother and a friend, who had
at first mistaken me for the langa-
roo, and had nearly consummated
what had been so strangely begun.
NY companions shouIdered the
fallen foe, by means of q large
stake, one carrying each end, while
followed with weak and totterine
steps. l am now an older hand at
kangaroo-hunting, and never ven
ture to attack so formidable an
antagonist with an ant-eaten club: g.
my dogs, also, have grown too wary
to rush heedlessly within reach Of
his deadly rips. We have killed
many since, but rarely 80 fine one
as that which first tried our mettle
on the plains of New Holland"