The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-08-04
A Savage BedfellOw.
BY c. ID. CLARK.

| bf u ID. CLARK.
Jack Featherly lived in log cabin al
the base Of one of the mountain ranges Of
the Adirondacks. He had been brought
up In woods from infancy, and the rocks
trees and flowing water were his lesson.
books, for in that desolate region schools
were out of the question.
| he was the son If a guide who conduct.
cd hunters and pleasure parties over the
lakes and through the woods of the "Shat.
agee' region, and by the time he was sew
enteen years of age, the boy was able to
act ns guide himself His eyes were so
Keen that he could tell at a glance, by the
traces upon the dry leaves, whether 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 civiliz-
ed bed.
In the summer of 1878 he guided 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.
Az pusSctt ONcT ltll nlllpS OIL Tie
way when night came on, and taking his
latchet from his belt, he quickly put up a
"lean-to."
Perhaps the reader may not know what
"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 shelter beneath; and
upon the roof formed of these branches
they throw moss, or small boughs perhaps
olson evergreen,) enough to exclude for
time the rain and dew.
1t did not take Jack 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
sackn
When he had finished his supper he
pulled aquantity ofmoss for q bed, spread
it upon the "floor" of his rude tent, wrap
ped 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 himself; for
his courage was certainly equal TO his
strength.
He slept for hours. The night grew
obi oil L. l,.,,l 4
his blanket close about him to keep out
the damp air.
1t might have been three O'Clock in the
morning, just before the light, when he
was awakened by strange feeling of un.
easiness, and gradually became aware of
the presence of some large, soft body lying
close to his own.
He could hear the aspirations of the an
imal's breath, and even felt them on his
neck. Whether the creature was ferocious
or otherwise he could not tell; but, GER
tainly, some wild visitor was lying close
to him, and enjoying the friendly warmth
of his body.
Was Jack frightened 2 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 bedfellow. Not that Jack
knew there WIS anything to fear from his
strange neighbor, but the suspense was
something even more uncomfortable than
fear
Painfully still he lay, without moving
hand or foot, for he could not tell what
deadly assault the slightest alarm might
provoke. But this inaction became too
horrible. Human nerves could not bear
it.
Cautiously he reached out after his rifle
His fingers closed upon it. Inch by inch
he dragged it towards him, till the barrel
lay across his breast, and he could touch
the lock. His thumb pressed the ham
mer, but even now lie dared not cock it,
for the click might startle his bedfellow,
and force battle before he was pre-
pared.
Sooner or later, however, it must come,
and necessity compelled him to venture
Stiifening his muscles and drawing in
his breath, he thrust back the hammer
of the lock, and the sharp "click click !"
sounded feariully distinct in the dead ST.
lence.
The wild animal made quick move
ment, but Jack lay like stone, and in a
moment his unknown enemy was asleep
again.
Would the morning never Gomez Jack
dared not fire in the darkness, for if he
missed his aim, and the creature proved
indeed beast of prey, there was no chance
for him.
With his finger on the trigger and
his hand upon the lock, he waited in
aching anxiety for the first light to
show him the outlines of his dreaded COM
panion.
Minutes seemed hours. Never before in
his life had the boy passed such an hour
His mind was terribly active, and vivid
memories of all he had done, and regrets
for every misdemeanor, with wild thoughts
OF what the end of this adventure might
possibly be, peopled his vigil of danger
till it became nightmare.
Slowly, very slowly the darkness broke
away, and jack, sickencd with long sus-
pense, cautiously turned his head. There,
close to him, stretched out in an attitude
of repose, lay full-grown panther.
Carefully and silently he drew his rifle
forward little more. What if the cap
should not exploded What if the rifle
were not properly loaded 2 He raised his
right arm gradually, until the muzzle was
within an inch Of the panthers ear He
pressed the trigger, and ut the instant Of
the discharge he was on his feet, with his
| hunting kniie in his hand, ready to fight
for his life.
nj 3 l. H.,