The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-04-15
A SAVAGE BEDFELLOW.
4 STORY FOR BOYS.

oaNh u AANSN 40 :" soSo NooAh q
the base of one of the mountain range
of the Adirondacks. He had beel
brought up in the woods from infancy
and the rocks, trees, and flowing waite
were his lessson-books, for in that desc
late region schools We're out of the ques
ton.
He was the son of a guide, who Con
Quoted hunters and pleasure parties owe
the lakes and through the woods of tn,
"Shattagee region. and by the time hi
was seventeen years Of age, the boy wa.
able to act as guide himself. His eye.
were so keen that he could tell at 8
glance, by the traces upon the dry leaves
whether a bear or panther had passed
by. The forest was his home, and he
could lie. down miles away from any
house, and sleep as sweetly upon his
couch of moss or leaves as the best
housed youngster on his more civilized
bed.
In the summer of 1873 he guided a
party distance of forty miles, to the first
of the chain of mountain lakes, where
his father waited for them with canoes
From that point they had no further
need of him, and the same afternoon he
started on his return home.
He had passed over ten miles ON the
way when night came on, and taking his
Ratchet from his belt, he quickly put up
a lean-to."
Perhaps the reader may not know what
a lean-to" means. When hunters have
to pass the night in the woods, and do
not care to sleep in the open air, they
cut down branches, or small trees, and
" lean" them against rock or large
tree at such an angle as to leave a shelter
beneath; and upon the roof formed of
these branches they throw moss, or small
boughs (perhaps of some evergreen,
enough to exclude for time the rain or
dew.
1t did not take Jake long to build his
shelter, and when it was completed he
sat down under it and ate some cold
meat and corn bread which he had in his
&" possible sack"
When he had finished his supper he
pulled a quantity of moss for bed,
spread it upon the "foor" of his rude
tent, wrapped his blanket about him,
and lay down.
The croaking of the frogs, the lay of
the whip-poor-will, and the tapping of
the river close at hand, were familiar
sounds, and quickly lulled him to sleep.
His rifle, loaded and ready for use, was
at his side, and his hunting-knife hung
in its sheath upon short, broken branch
above his head.
Though he was but seventeen years
old, Jack Featherly was as strong as most
men, and quite able to take care of him
self; for his courage was certainly equal
to his strength.
He slept Tor hours. The night grew
chilly, and it was well he had wrapped
his blanket close abont him to keep out
the damp air.
1t might have been three o'clock in the
morning, just before the light came,
when he was awakened by a strange feel
ing of uneasiness, and gradually became
aware of the presence of some large, soft
body lying close to his own.
He could hear the respirations of an
animals breath, and even felt them on
his neck Whether the creature was fe-
rocious or otherwise he could not tell
but, certainly, some wild visitor was lying
close to him, and enjoying the friendly
warmth of his body.
Was Jack frightened ? Put yourself
in his position, and tell me what you
think about it. My opinion is, that
brave as he was, he would have been
better pleased with different bedfelIow
Not that Jack knew there was anything
to fear from his strange ne:ghbor, but
the suspense was something more un
comfortable even than fear.
Painfully still be lay, without moving
hand or foot, for he could not tell wha
deadly assault the slightest alarm nigh
provoke. But this inaction became to,
horrible. Human nerves could not bear it
Cautiously he reached out after hi
rife. His fingers closed upon it. Incl
by inch he dragged it towards him, til
the barrel lay across his breast and h,
could touch the lock His thuml
pressed the hammer, but even now h,
dared not cock it, for the click NIGH
startIe his 5edfellow, and force battI
before he was prepared.
Sooner or later, however, it must come
and necessity compelled him to venture
Stiffening his muscles, and drawing i
his breath, he thrust back the hamme
of the lock, and the sharp "click. click !.
sounded fearfully distinct in the dea
silence.
The wild animal made quick move
ment, but Jack lay like stone, and in
moment his unknown enemy SCENE
asleep again.
Would the morning never come? JAG
dared not fire in the darkness, for if h
missed his aim, and the creature prove
indeed a beast of prey, there was n
chance for him. With his finger upo
the trigger, and his hand upon the loci
he waited in aching anxiety for the fir,
light to show him the outlines of h
dreaded companion.
Minutes seemed hours Never befo
in his life had the boy passed such 6
hour. His mind was terribly active. AZ
vivid memories Of all he had done, al
regrets for every misdemeanor, with wi
thoughts of what the end Of this advc