Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-17

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from some person in distress. Halt
awake, | sprang into sitting position
and listened. Not hearing it repeated,
laid down again, and must have in
stantly dropped to sleep, for in a short
time was awakened by old Mats call
ing to me-
al say, Judge, did you hear that
painter yell just nowT'
| replied that | did not, though
heard it some time before, and mistook it
for that of a person in distress,
Wal, that was q Out-and-out painter"
said Nat. "Pve heerd 'em often when
I've been lyin"-
Just at this moment, a prolonged, wall
ing yell, startlingls distinct, broke the
stiffness of the fight. So piercing and
plai"ti,e was it that the sound sent an
involuntary shudder through my frame,
which | have not forgotten to this day
That critter aint great ways off,
exclaimed Nat. "Mebbe we'll gita shot
at him afore mOrnin'. They're dreadful
nasty critters ter hunt at night,
cos You can't see 'em, they lay sd close
to the limbSp'
odd you ever kill one, Nat" l
asked.
eyes, four on 'em. The last one |
/ killed waz down on the Sabinal year
ago"
As Nat reached this point IN his natra-
tive, he was interrupted by the animals
cry. This time it was so near that we
+ both hastily threw of our blankets and
grasped our rifles forit seemed ~ though
/ he must be within teH feet of us.
While was putting on my boots, Nat
started in the direction of the sound. |
followed him as soon as ossible, pausing
for moment to wake the doctor, who
was heavy sleeper. 1t was so dark as !
left the camp, that called to the doctor
to bring torch,
Following the sound of Mats footsteps,
| had gone but a very short distance
when | heard q low exclamation, ac-
cOmpaniCd by Il snarling growl. This
was followed by sound like that of two
persons rolling on the ground in a con-
test together.
Listening intently, | heard violent
breathing, angry calculations, the crash
ingof underbrush, and saw, few steps
in advance of me, dark mass rolling
over and over on the ground. What it
was could not distinguish in the dark
ness. Just at the instant, 4 reflection
from the doctors torch, as he came to-
wards us, gave me glimpse Of an
animals back. Rising my rifle, though
hardly pausing to take aim, or reflect up
OH the consequences, | fired, and in an in
slant Nat sprang to his feet with a
Wal, that wuz close rub, reckon
it would a been putty nigh up with old
Nat eff yer hadn't fired when yer did.
Yer see the critter lit on termy shoulder,
here, and he's tared it some"
The doctors torch revealed 4 sickening
sight, indeed. Old Mats shoulder and
the upper part of his right arm were en-
tirely bare of clothing, and the flesh
literally hung in strips where the
creatures huge claws had struck when it
sprung upon him.
We hastily led Nat back to camp, and
the doctor made as thorough an exami-
nation of his wounds as possible, which
revealed the fact that his left arm below
the elbow had also been severely injured,
the marks of the creatures teeth being
plainly visible.
In short time we had the wounds
dressed, and old Maxwell, I'll let him
tell his own story.
81 didn't see the critter when he
jumped, but he lit on ter my shoulder,
and the heft ofhim knocked me flat, and
he on top of Ine. There's whar he had
the advantage. | seed his big mouth
right over my face, and his jaws open,
so / rammed my left arm right in be-
tween 'em, and back ez fur ez | could git
it, 50 that he couldn't git no purchase on
to it. In that way, he didn't get much
of chance ter bite afore you shot, and
twas Mt minute too soon, either, | tell
you. | thought twas all up with me;
but then, Pm all right now, and good
for dozen painters yet He must be 4
whopper, though, and I'd like to see
him."
took two of the men and went out to
look for the animal. He proved to be
very ldISC, measuring IiOAi WV Wv VI ~"
nose to the tip of his tail trifie over
nine feet. His weight we estimated to
be at least two hundred and thirty
pounds.
Ny shot had been a very lucky one,
the bullet piercing his heart.
The Mexicans had feast on the flesh,
which they pronounced delicious.
Neither of us cared to taste the dclicacy,
although Nat frequently remarked that
painters wuz good, and he reckOncd he
must try it,"
He didn't seem to be hungry enough
to make the attempt, although strongly
urged to do so.
He suffered severely from the effect of
his wounds, and it was weeks before he
perfectly recovered the use of his arms.
The marks of the encounter he will carry
to his grave.