Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-08
A Man Of Nerve.
WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS WITH
TEACHEROUS COMPANION.

AS test Of nerve, the recent expert
ence Of a wayfarer travelling through
wood road near Olympias, Washington
Territory, was rs remarkable as any on
record The man was speculator. look
ING out wild laud, and he trudged through
the forest, following the almost unused
path formed by All old road made by po
neers in the wilderness. His mind was
devoted to one supiect-the critical exam
ination of the kind of trees upon the land
about him. and of the character of the soil,
and he failed to notice for some time the
" "pit-a- pat" on the dead leaves beside him.
He at first scarcely looked down when he
felt something rubbing against his legs
and heard a slight purring sound. but when
he did look his heart came up to his mouth
and Il cold sweat started as though he WAS
suspended by weak rope over Niagara.
Pressing itself softly against his legs. twin
ING about him us he walked, moving its
flexible body swiftly, but with never a
sound, turning up fierce eyes with some
thing almost like a terrible laugh at him
was huge cougar, No chicken was this
man in the woods, but his account of the
manner in which his hat was raised by
his hair is not to be considered apocryphal
ut all Sleek and supple and muscular the
beast glided about. and at intervals would
come closer again, and press Its body
against the legs of the man, the light
touch making goosetlesh of every inch of
his form. 1t was a terrible experience.
that interview with the cougar in the for
est prmeval, and it WAS we'll for the man
that his nerves were of the kind TO DO
honor to a frontier adventurer. Steadily
pursuing his course with steps that would
falter occasionally, he kept on, and with
him the beast continued its tcacherouS
gambols. At times it would glide a few
PAGES in front. and roll over in the road,
and wait for the man to come up, and then
it would circle around him until the.lm-
pulse almost too strong To be resisted,
would come upon him to spring upon the
brute, opposing fists to fangS, and ending
the intolerable suspension ut any risk.
The movements of the terrible animal
were but as the playing of 4 eat with Il
mouse. and the man knew it. The mo-
ment came. at length, when the strain
could be borne no longer, and the mar
kicked desperately at the beast as it passet
him. In 4 moment it bounced in from
and crouched for spring. growing
hoarselv and showing its teeth. The mar
stopped and shouted hopelcs>ly for aid
while the cougar did not spring nj once
but appeared waiting to gratify its humo
a little longer The shout, fortunately
was not in vain.
There were hunters and dogs in tn,
immediate vicinity, rs rare fortune woul,
have it, and the hounds dashed suddcnl,
from the covert as the cougar, seeing then
leaped for 4 tree \ few moments late
the beast fell a victim to the bullets
and the man with whom it had taken
STROLL was telling his story and trying t
restore the natural condition of his nerve
by internal application from small FLASK
Ii was one Of the episodes which tur
mems hair. gray one which would, doubt
less. have brought death to the man wit
less nerve than the hero OF the affair
DdWdJidc Monitor.