The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-05-23
Thrilling Experience of a Hunter in
the Adirondack Mountains.

Jack Featherly lived in log cabin at
the base Of one of the mountain ranges
of the Adirondacks. He had been
brought up in the 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 of guide who conducted
hunters and pleasure parties over the
lakes and through the woods of the Shat
tagee region, and by the time he was
seventeen years of age the boy was able
to act as guide himself. His eyes were
so keen that he could tell at glance, by
the traces upon the dry leaves, whether
bear, deer or panther had passed by.
The forest was his home, and he could
lie down miles from home and sleep as
sweetly upon his couch of moss or leaves
as the best housed yOupgster 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
of the way when night came on, and
taking his Ratchet from his belt he
quickly put up clean to-"
It did not take Jack long to build his
shelter, and when it was completed he
sat down upon it, and ate some cold
meat and corn bread, which he had in
his haversack. When he had finished
his supper he gathered a quantity of
moss and leaves for a bed, spread them
! upon the floor of his rude tent, wrapped
| his blanket around him and laid down.
The croaking of the frogs, the lay of the
whippOrwill, and the tapping of the river
close at hand were familiar sounds and
| quickly lulled him to sleep. His rife,
loaded and ready for use, was hung upon
a 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.
| 1t might have been three o'clock in
the morning, just before the light came,
when he was awakened by a strange
| feeling of uneasiness, and gradually be-
came aware of the presence of some
large, soft body, lying close to his own,
He could hear the heavy resriratiOns Of
/ the animals breath, and even felt them
on his neck. Whether the creature was
ferocious 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 al
brave as he was, he would have beer
better pleased with different bedfel.
/ low. Not that Jack knew there was
anything to fear from his strange neigh
Dor, but the suspense was something ever
more uncomfortable than fear.
Painfully stil he lay, without moving
hand or foot, for he could not tell what
deadly assault the slightest alarm might
provoke. But this inaction became toe
horrible. Human nerves could not bear
it.
Cautiously he reached out for his rife
his fingers cIutched upon it inch by inch
he dragged IL toward him till the barre
lay across his breast and he could touch
/ the lock. His thumb pressed the hammer
but even now he dared not cock it, foI
the click might startle his bedfeIIoW
and force battle before he was pre-.
pared,
Sooner or later, however, itmust come
and necessity compelled him to venture
| Stifening his muscles, and drawing in
his breath, he thrust back the hammer
of the lock, and the sharp click, click
sounded fearfullY distinct in the dead
silence. The wild animal made quick
movement, but Jack lay like stone
and in moment his unknown enemy
seemed asleep again,
Would the morning never come! Jack
| dared not fire in the darkness, for If be
missed bis aim, and the creature proved
| indeed a beast of prey, there was nc
| chance for him. With his finger upon
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 companion.
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 ever done.
| and regrets for every misdemeanor, with
! wild thoughts of what the end of this adj
| venture might possibly be, peopled his
vigil of danger till it became q night
mare.
Slowly, very slowly, the darkness
! broke away, and Jack, sickened with his
long suspense, cautiously turned his
head.
/ 4nClCs StOSO W ului1 SGI6ICn6Q OUT II
an attitude of repose, lay q full-grown
panther. Carefully and silently the boy
drew his rifle forward a little more
What if the cap should not explode ?
! What if the rife was not properly loaded {
He raised his right arm gradually, until
the muzzle was within ali inch of the
panther's ear. He pressed the trigger
and at the instant Of the discharge he
was OF his feet with his hunting-knife in
his Land, ready to fight for his life But
there was no need of the knife now.
The bullet had crashed through the
brain of the Frustrated beast, killing him
on the spot. Jacks danger was over
but even now, whenever he tells the
story, he says he can feel the cold sweat
gather on his flesh as it did that terrible
morning in the Adirondack woods wher
he lay in bed with the panther Allen
town (Pa.) Cor.