The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-03-16
A PANTHER HUNT.

tnTlIlIng narrative OIan adventure OF CnenSys
the fearless Nimrod of the Adirondacks,
with one of those insidious. pitiless denizens
of the forest. the panther:
Many of The secluded lakes in this re-
gion are frequented by the otter. 1t is be-
times frolicsome, and it has 3 curious prac-
rice of sliding" It chooses deep decliv-
ity ending in the water, or upon the ice,
and there they are wont, for hours together.
to enjoy the diverting slides.
Early one winters morning Cheney Wis
tied ..slide;" but lol 3 stealthier hunter of
the otter had anticipated him; for there in
the snow was the broad track of panther.
The lesser game was instantly forgotten in
the tingling excitement of 3 dangerous chase.
At once he hurried back for his stout old
hound, returned, and before noon was upon
the track. The boldest hunter will own
that there is more peril than pastime in this
chase, for the alert foe is certain very soon
to scent the pursuit, when it has habit oil
taking TO the trees, casting Its trail, and
waiting for the pursuer at vantage.
The panther's spring has become prov
er0 OF quickness, and against It's agile and
wonderful strength, at close quarters
weapon is of little avail. But this once its
craft was opposed 20 sagacity never hood
winked, a vigilance never surprised. The
b und was trained in many an encounter OF
The foe before them. Cheney held CHASE,
holding his trusty coadjutor in check, keep
ing him only a lew rods in advance. never
allowing him out of sig ht, and at moder-
ate pace pushed on.
Two or three hours of tardy, patient trac-
ing wore on; not a bush, tree, or rock es-
l.no iaaloTro Yet
he relied mainly upon the acute Instinct OF
the dog to apprise him of the proximity OF
the panther; and the noble hound this day
proved for the thousandth time, that his mas
ter's trust was we'll placed; for behold! the
sagacious animal began to test the laden air
by prolonged shifts. to hesitate with foretoot
lifted, to look backwards, and bespeak his
masters attention with low Winnings
These actions signaled the vicinity of the
panther. Seeming its pursuers' the crafty
animal had. as its habit is, stopped and tax,
en- cover. Now all the hunters nerve and
circumspection were put to their keenest
tension; rod further, and he might be I'M
der the eye of the hidden panther, and IN
stantly be faced b: its overwhelming spring.
Besides, the hunter being in motion and the
foe in cover, the latter possessed danger
GUS advantage in point of discovery.
Always keeping in the shelter of a tree,
he crept on a few rods further. By this
time the hound. with back bristlng, and ut
tering low means, came back TO his master I
feet No urging could force him to move
on'a single foot without his master. Gaze
ney was sure that at that instant he could
not be dozen reds from the panther; in
deed he was certain that the crowded jam
of hemlocks just before him was the cover.
The hunter held himself sheltered behind
his stronghold, an enormous hemlock, and
coolly made ready for the final scene of the
lonely but terribly exciting drama. He
planted his Ratchet in the snow, freshly cap
ped his weapon, and got a second charge OF
powder and lead ready to hand. Now. al
ready. keeping his body sheltered, he begins
TO search, inch by inch, and foot by foot.
the dense mass of hemlocks beyond. He
knows his feline fellow actor is there. Yet
so perfectly was the panther hidden, that a
torturing half-hour the hunter strained his
eyes in vain. Suddenly quick whine from
the hound hugging his feet startles him ;
following the dogs riveted gaze for mo
ment, 10 the dim outline of the cruel saw
aye, by slow, blood chilling degrees grows
upon the hunters view. developing, as il
were, into shape from that dense mass Of
hemlock spray. The panther was hugginy
close to giant limb in the fork Of tree.
scarcely a hundred feet distant. It was
motionless. save its yellow eyes, which now
began to scintillsIe like sparks OF fire.
1t was not a moment for hesitation. The
hunter took a single stride from his shelter.
caught sight and with the quickness ol
thought fred. The bali meant for the crea-
lures head only broke his shoulder. The
smoke of the discharge had not risen; the
panther's curdling scream of pain had
scarcely riven the forest stiffness before Che
ney was sheltered and ready to try again.
Till the panther can get an unobstructed
sight, it will hardly ever spring. But the
wounded animal was emitting piercing cries
and its powerful tail was wrathfully flashing
its TANKS. Again the hunter stepped out; il
was but seconds glance. yet he saw the
flaming eyes, the stretched and toam-driP-
ping jaws. the ivory white claws that rivet-
ed themselves into the great branch upon
which the panther yet lay. The rifle bal
was quicker than the panther's spring, fol
just as il sailed back upon its launches for
the bound, the missile, this time true, smots
it fairly between the eyes. The shot was
Instantly fatal; its stael-spring limbs relax
ing. and the keen claws loosening their gript
in the wood where they had been half bur-
led, the panther fell crashing throug b the
branches at the hunters feet-dead.
SENSITIVE PEoPLE.-There is no help fol
being sensitive, but it ought to teach per
son tenderness towards others. It does not
however. A great many people who pride
themselves upon their ''frsnkuess." and al
uavs ..sneaLinn their mind % ara the very