The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-02-08
Twenty miles IN such

mo use SfumDllnS, you WOulu com
you know, may as well make the bes
of it, said Sanders. But we've go
a good long tramp; SO let's be Of
We were, we judged, somewhere il
the town of Grafton, Me-, on the hea'
waters of the Bear river, tributar,
of the Androscoggin. We had conn
up the day before, with hounds, afte
a moose reported to have been seems
few miles gelow. Yesterday had beer
a beautiful Indian summer day, the
last of his race, for the winter hac
now burst down upon us with hai
and snow, driven by cutting north
east wind, which sighed and howleC
with November dreariness through
the leaden forest. The moose had
Jared much better than his hunters,
for, after leading us off steadily intc
the wilderness, he had row left us to
get back the best way we could in the
storm and darkness.
Our party consisted of five. the
doctor Il young medical student,
Just out of the school and never in the
woods before Brown, returned
cavalry man, my brother Tom and
myself, then boys of fifteen, and lastly,
Sanders, an old backwoodsman, who,
in his younger days, had been riv-
er driver, but latterly, a trappel and
hunter Twas queer party, collect
ed rather hastily, to CRAFTY the doc
tors iil-timed enthusiasm TO hunt Il
moose Sanders was the only one
presenting the slightest knowledge of
woodcraft.
For two OF three hours we tramped
on steadily, following down the river
and consoling ourselves as best we
! might with the reflection that, provi-
dcd we didn't get lost, we should get
down to some farm house by mid
night, possibly. 1t WIS now past five
o'cllck, and getting quite dark, when
we suddenly noticed the forest lighted
up ahead, and Il few moments later
we came out into Il large opening On
the stream, containing large builG
ing of some sort.
'HurrahL' shouted the doctor;
there's Il bOHse.'
Not Il house, exactly sail Brown
straining his eyes TO rcconnolter. Il
should call that Il barn
Hay farm here, guess, said San
dcrs; where they cut hay tor the
logging camps. No house hcre!'
No light, anyway SAID Tom,
well, then cried The doctor, strik-
ing out across the clearing, in lack
of house we will try the barn
We all followed; any sort of a
shelter was a godsend on such Il night,
and we were soon stumbling around
the corner OF Il great deserted struct-
ure of rough boards, looming up in
the whirling snow, and one of its
great doors swinging and banging
with dismal slams
We dod:sed in, however, and con-
trived to secure the reckless Old. door
by standing piece of timber slantins-
ly against it from the outside. There
was Il large quantity OF hay stored
within, the scafio lis and mows were
filed up to the high beams, and there
WAS also Il lot lying 10 pse about the
floor
1t wouldn't do to kindle 4 fire in
there, and nobody wanted one bad
enough tn build it out iii the SNOW; 50
we divided the remainder of our cold
bite in the dark, AMI, alter eating 1t,
shook down bed of the hay and
turned in, sid. by s de, with beautl-
ful coverlet of the same mitcria!.-
For Il long time we lay talking, and
congratulating ourselve, on our COM
Portable bunk, till, after awhile, Brown
then the doctor, and soon after, San,
drrS, began snoring drowsily. Tom
took up the c. us, an L didn't listen
much longer.
/ don't know how long we had been
asleep, when all at olce L awOke with
Il lump and in considerable alarm
Something was nuffing and scratch
ing through the hay dowr at my fest.
| w;ls sure felt claws on my boot.
It took me moment to recollect
where L was, and then it flashed into
my mind that the doctor WAS playing
off another of his jokes Che was always
at it) to brighten me.
The scratching and rustling contin
ucd working nearer; but waited for
a good chance. I'll fix you, old fellow,
thought |, ard lay motionless till l
felt what / took to be his finger nails
pinching up my trowscr leg Then L
kicked out ut venture, hoping to
pay him in iu!l for his untimel y an
tics
My foot hit something pretty hard!
There was spit, growl, and the
flash of two fiery eyes il the black,
lie 81! In my fright and surprise, L
executed flying leap over Brown,
who lay next TO me, and landed flat
upon the doctor, pitching me down in
the hay at his feet. AS yet none had
spoken, hut the following inquiries !
Instantly broke out in the dark.
sHullooP from the doctor.
whats up?' from Brown.
wildcats Wildcats = screamed 1
sprawling in the hay :
sHalloor from old Sanders, wax !
ing up.
tsWhat's the matter?' from Tom.
'Catamounts! Wildcats! l vo-
ciferated.
There was an instant scramble
Everybody was on his feet in an in
stantI Gusts of hay flew about
Knowing the creature was on my
side, leaped over toward the other
ran against Brown, was taken for the
wildcat, and got a knock that sent me
;prawling in the hay again.
Here he is yelled Brown. Here
10 ;sI ont with vOur knives p