The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-09-14
A PANTHER ADVENTURE.


Many of the survivors of the past gen.
Grafton remember a particularly cold
winter at the beginning of the present
century. Especially i'll Western New
York was the rigor of this season felt
with extraordinary severity.
Numerous farmers were so isolated
and shut off from each other that they
passed long weeks without seeing each
others faces, while those who had not
the means of sustaining life around them,
ran no little risk OF meeting death
from starvation.
The brute creation suffered no less
than did the settlers, and, emboldened
by hunger, the wolves came in droves
from the woods, and swarmed about the
barns and houses, where they trotted
restlessly back and forth during the
night, awaiting for chance at the sheep
or swine confined therein. The hiber-
mating animals in that strange coma
when the functions of life are held in
suspense, stood the trying season better
than anything else.
When spring came, cold and stinging,
the bears and panthers seemed to feel an
summer was at hand, more than one un-
fortunate farmer had been killed and
torn by the ravenous brutes.
On the outskirts of an immense tract
of woodland, in Western New York,
dwelt half-breed known among the
settlers as Ruppy." He had Iroquois
and French blood in him, but in nature
partook more of the American than the
Caucasian race. He was somewhat of q
hermit in character, living in rude
cabin constructed by his own hands, and
seldom was seen among the settlers ex-
cept when in want of powder or ball.
He was taciturn and uncommunicative,
although there seemed nothing morose
or vindictive in his composition.
During the winter months, when rang
ing the forest, he wore beautifully en-
broidered blanket, made in the style pc
culiar to the Indians, while his leggins,
moccasins, flaming black eyes and
swarthy skin, gave him the appearance
of perfect Indian. In warm or mild
weather he wore civilized pants and
moccasins, with large slouched hat,
and with no covering at all for the up
per portion of his body. His hair, which
was long and luxuriant, was generally
gathered in knot behind. He usually
went armed with long, formidable
looking rifle, an immense ak or toma-
hawk, and fearful-looking knife-long,
keen and glittering.
Ruppy, as we have stated, was her
NIT in his tastes, resolutely refusing all
companionship, except so far as his
wants compelled him to meet and min
gle with the whites. He was equally
unsocisl toward the aborigines. 1t was
known that when a war-party of Sene-
cas- encamped near his hovel, he quietly
took his departure in the woods, and
was not seen again until they had with
drawn.
This strange being, so solitary in his
tastes and habits, was never known to
receive any being into anything like
friendship or confidence until he had re-
sided in this lonely place for something
like ten years. At this time, young Ed
ward Inman, lad about dozen years
of age, and who had known Ruppy ever
since his earliest childhood, was hunting
alone in the woods, when, unexpectedly
to himself, he came upon the home Of
the half-breed.
He had never seen it before, yet from
the descriptions which he had so often
heard, he recognized it at once.
All was silent and motionless, and he
hesitated some moments, debating
whether he had better withdraw or ad-
the former, for fear of offending the sin.
gular being, when something like groan
caught his ear, and sent shiver of ter
TOR from his head to his feet.
Believing that there was need of help
he walked hastily forward, and knocked
timidly at what was intended to be 8
door. 1t was not until he had twice re-
peated the summons, that the response
came, in harsh, husky voice:
"Come in J"
Showing aside the slabs and skins, he
stepped in and looked about him. II
required moment or two for his eyes tc
become accustomed to the semi-dark-
ness, but when they did he saw Ruppy
stretched upon his bed of skins. in {
burning fever. His eyes shone with {
delirious brightness, while his cheeks
and the surface of his body were al
afame with the consuming fire. HI
rolled from side to side in his pain, moan
ing and helpless.
The boy walked to where he was ly
ing, and placing his cool hand upon til,
hot and throbbing brow, said in hi
kindliest voice:
"Ruppy, you are sick can do any
thing for you?"
water water !" he gasped, making
feeble attempt to rise.
Edward did not stop to consider tina
in those days it would have ruined any
physician had he allowed fever patien
a mouthful of the refreshing fluid, ant
that all heads older than his own woulC
have pronounced it fatal to allow suck
thing. He saw that the poor half-bree'
was in dire extremity, and catching u
his slouched hat which lay near, h
dashed out, and made all haste to run
ming brook, where he filled its crown wit
water.
1t leaked somewhat, but then he ha'
fully pint, which was eagerly graspe
in the trembling hands of the sufferer
and swallowed with feverish hast
which cannot be described.