Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-07-04

sluggish stream of water. The banks
were steep and overgrown with wild
cane. could sec Hunter ut the foot of
blasted post-oak, near the opposite
oank, and, cheering him, I made my
WY to tree that had fallen across the
run just below where I stood, forming
an excellent bridge of itself, but i'm
proved by some ono who had chopped
off the upper branches, and smoothed
the uppermost side of the trunk. 1t
was about sixteen feet above the water.
As reached the center of this natural
bridge, l cast glance upon Hunter,
who was nearer me now than when I
stood opposite him Oh the bnnk,-the
tree ut the foot of which he was, being
very near the root of that which formed
my bridge,-anl what I saw at that
glance made me- pause, and hesitate
about going any further.
In the crotch of the blasted tree /
saw the game. Hunter had trceei u
young svild-c.tt.
A chill ran down my back Mt the
sight. My gun was loaded with number
tive shot, good for squirrel, but perfectly
useless for larger game. Had I an
other? felt in my pockets, still
standing on the middle of the bridge,
and found four buck shot and a bullet,
that intended to use as sinkers for my
fishing line. I went back to the bank
and drew the small shot aud ramrned
home the larger ones, four buck-shot
and bullet. Nine was only single
barreled gun. Then I crept out on
the bridge. Hunters deep bark had
now subsidized to sullen growls. Two
thirds Of the way over stopped, and
wound my legs around the trunk of the
tree, my gun had long reach, and 1
knew would kill at the distance that
lay between me AMI the wildcat but
1T the same time knew that I had but
one shot, and it would not do to miss.
I raised my gun and took deliberate
aim; but my nerves were not steady
enough. I dropped the muzzle until 1t
rested on the tree. What should Idol
Happy thought! out from the trunk of
the bridge sprang branch at an angle
Of forty-tive degrees, in which about a
foot from the main tree was crotch. I
would lie upon my stomach, place my
gun in this rest, and my aim would be
sure.
did so. Running my eve along the
barrel I selected spot in the creatures
hide just back of its fore-paw, and,
taking careful aim, fred. The recoil
Of the gun knocked me into the water
below, which, fortunately, was not very
deep, though sufficiently to prevent
my receiving any serious injury from
my sudden fall. For . minute itreally
seemed as if the world had slipped
away and left me floating in space, but
the chillness of the water made me re-
alize very soon, not only my position,
but that it was decidedly an uncom-
Portable one. Isprang to my feet, and
CROPPING along the muddy bottom
found my gun. Then I scrambled up
the bank, anxious to know the result
of my shot.
All was perfectly quiet on the oppo-
site bank, aud hunter was in very nearly
the same position as when l fred. ex-
cept that he was lying down. I did
not dare cross the bridge. The wild
cat was gone from the tree. Was it
it dead2 A dark object directly in
front of him, upon the grass aud with
cred leaves, made me think that it was,
and crossed the bridge.
Yes, boys, the wildcat was dead, and
so was Hunter. Poor Hunter! The
cat in its dying throes had fastened it's
teeth in the throat of the faithful and
courageous dog, and both had died to.
| gether.