Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-05
NY Last Panther Fight.

was lost. The forest closed around
me like a catacomb. Its silence and
gloomy recesses filled my heart with a
dread which was not fear, for fear | never
knew; it was the haunting, nameless
terror which at times impresses even the
stoutest of hearts. Sometimes the feel
ing comes at night when sleep refuses to
visit the eyelids, and the very darkness
becomes palpsble and real.
For a while unused over my situation,
prey to the dread which would oppress
me; but after while / grew self-posses-
sed again, shook my body as dog
emerging from the water to cast off the
influences which fettered my energies.
strobe forward resoutely-whither, /
had not the least conception.
1t was well on in the dey when, part.
ing with two of my companions, /
started for the camp, some three miles
away, taking course across the hills,
which led me from the river, along whose
banks our hunting and trapping ground
had been. Striking O valley which ap-
peared to iSad in the right direction, |
followed it up to an abrupt termination,
then mounted the ridges in front, and so
passed on ints the heavy forest. In this
| had walked for upward of two hours !;
then, surprised at not coming out at the
camp "opening," / began to realize that
must have gone astray. In vain tried
to distinguish the east from the west; the
sun refused to shine through the overcast
October sky, and could not even guess
the direction which had pursued.
But on and on went, led by the hope
that each rift in the woods was the
sought for opening, only to be deceived
and to become more deeply bewildered !;
and at length l paused, wearied with my
exertions, to ponder over the stua-
ton. 1t was then, when the rsac-
tion from hope to despair came, that |
was seized with the feeling first referred
to-of dread bordering on terror.
That feeling passed away with the
vigorous shake which gaye my person,
and for another two hours, until darkness
closed in around me, struggled forward
to reach the river bank. Having amount
ed high hill, discovered line of lofty
ridges which / conceived must mark the
water-course Once on its banks, / was
sure Of my way, and TO reach it ! bent
all my slowly expiring strength. Long
ere attained the foot of the hills it was
night-dark, gusty night.
How drearily sounded the wind Sigh
ing through the branches and the half
crisped verdure overhead 1t seemed to
me sent as dismal messenger to stand
over my couch all night to warn me of
the presence of night and darkness.
My couch where was it to be2 Not
on the ground, almost utterly destitute
of grass, and damp with the penetrating
moisture of the woods. To my weary
frame rest was necessary, but to sleep
there was only to icenr the double hazard
of sickness aud danger from the night
prowliug wolf and panther.
Hark awsy off upon the hillside cry
What is it2 Something human, yet in-
human. Ali | knew it only too well I;
the voracious and hungry catsmount-
the American panther. An answering
cry from the foot of the hills now came
upon the air-ihe cry of the equally vo-
racious and ferco wolf.
MY safety lay in ooncealment; but how
was that possiblo7 The blood-loviug
beasts would ferret out my hidiug-2lace,
let 1t be even in the tree-tops, 1t once
they got to the windward Of me, To the
windwsrd2 They were to the vindwsrd
And the now increasing number of howls
advised me to seek "cover," for re-
lentless enemy was on my track.
i had reached one OF the occasional
openings in the forest where the green
grass and wild flowers are permitted to
grow, the sweet light Of heaven is felt BY
day. In the lessened darkness Of this
spot was just able TO discern, out in the