Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-08-07
a Man of <arxa.

WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS WITH A
TREACHEROUS COMPANION
As a test Df nerve. the recent experience of
a waytargr. travelling wool road near
OlS mpia, Washington territory, was n re-
maTkable as any on record. The man was q
Spectator, looking cut Wild land, and ne
irUGged through the forest, following The
almost unused path formed by an old rosl
made ny pioneers IN the wilderness. HIS
mind was devoted 10 one subiect-fhe crit
cal examination OF the kind OF trees upp,i
the land about him. aud OF the character 81
The soil, and he failed 20 notice for some
time pit "A pat upon the dead lea yts near
him. He at first scarcely looked down. when
he felt something rubbing against his ieEs
and heafc slight puTring sound. but when
lie did look his heart came up IN hIs mouth
and cold sweat started a. suddenly a
though hc were suspended by a weak
rope over Niagara. Pressing ITSELF soft
~ against his legs jwininE about him
as he walkei, moving ITS neXIie bpty
swiftly, hUt with never a sound. turn
ing UP fierce eyes with something al most II ke
a terrible laugh in them, was huge cougar
No chicken was this man iu the woods, buI
his account OF the manner In which his hat
was raised by MS hair rs rot 10 be considered
as aICchryphal al All. Sleek and supple aud
muscular, the beast gllded about, and at ia
teTValS II would come closer again, and press
It's body against the legs O! the man, the
light touch making gOoSeiiesh 81 every incn
IN his form. II was a terrible experience.
that interview with the cougar AZ the fore
primeVai, and n was well for the man tn"
his nerves were OF the kind 10 do honor q
frontier adventurer- steadily pursuing
course with steps that would falter Oc-a-
SiOnally, he kept on, and with hmm tte bea>l
Continued its treacherous gambOlS At
times il would glide a few PAGES IN
the front, and roll over ana over IA tie
road, and wait for the man % come up,
and then IL would circle around him gam
until the impulse, almost too strong 10 he
resisted, would come upon him 10 spring
upon the brute, opposing dSts Ia fanEs, and
ending the intolerable suspense at any risk.
The movements of the ter. ole animal wers
but as the playing OF cat with mouse.
and the man knew IL. The moment came, a.
length, when the strain could be bOrne no
longer, and the man hfcke1 desperately az
the beast as il passed him. In an instant il
bounded IN front and CrpGcl.,-t Tor a spring,
growing hoarsely ana showing its teetl.
The man stopped aud shouted hUpelesSly for
aid, while the cougar did not spring at once,
but appeared waiting To crafty is humor q
mite longer. SLe shout, fortunately, was
Dot ia vain.
There were hunters and dogs IN the irnnle-
date vicinity. a. rare fortune would nave A.
and the hounds dashed suddenly from thss
covert a. the cougar seeing them, leaped f0r
"a tree. A few moments later the beast fell -
victim 10 bullets. AMI the man with whom
u lad taken 3 stroll. was telling his story
and trying Ia restore the normal condition OF
his nerves by internal applications from &
small flask. II Was one of the episodes
which turn mems hair gray-one which,
would. doubtless, have brought death 10 "A
man with less nerve than the hero OF tha
DOloGgdc Monitor.