The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-17
THE DAILY STAR
SL0WTRAP.

Those who go to hunt in the forests
meet with strange adventures and mis-.
haps. Often, after toiling through vast
swamps or over steep mountains, the
huntsman passes days without shooting
anything, while at other times. when ne
least expects it, he has the finest sport.
Sometimes his good fortune comes to him
during sleep, as happened in the follow
ing case, which was told to me by an old
hnnter in the far West.
This mans name was Slowtrap; he
was strange character, who never made
aquick movement, never laughed, never
betrayed any excitement of mind, and
was 50 accustomed to live in his own
forest and to constant hunting, that he
never ceughed or sneezed. except in his
own hut, as it were on the sly, and then
each time he would look cautiously and
anxiously round as if to see whether he
had not frightened away some wild ami
NAL.
After the war of American Independ-
ence, Kentucky was still an unsettled
state, rich in game, and inhabited by
warlike Indian tribes. The first settlers
there had to contend with terrible dan
gers and difficulties, and, if they were
able easily to maintain themselves by
hunting, they were never sure whether
the report of their rifle would not bring
down upon them the wild beasts which
were everywhere prowling about, SO that
from being hunters they might soon be-
come the hunted. 1t was an extraordi-
nary wild life which they led there, and
full of adventures. w..
Well, my old friend Slowtrap-then
robust young man-had settled down in
the forest with few comrades and built
q strong block-house, where, at night, at
all events, they were secure from the
attack; they had indeed always to keep
. good watch, and all day they roamed
about one by one in the neighborhood III
pursuit of game. That there was danger
in this made it only more interesting for
those bold men.
Thus it happened then, that Slowtrap
went out one morning to shoot stag.
There were plenty of stays there, and
also many wild turkeys; but bears and
panthers abounded, for where there is
much game the ravenous beasts who
live upon it are plentiful, too. P;lnthers,
especially, lurked in those forests; they
never attacked men, but. on the con-
trary, were timid, and started off at the
slightest noise which they thought was
caused by man. 1t was, therefore, very
difficult to catch them
As his custom was Slowtrap was glid-
ing about in the thickets without firing
a single shot. Now and then, indeed, he
saw herd of game, but it never stood
long enough for him to take aim, and
the American huntsman never shoots an
animal in motion. At last he became
tired of this wandering about.
According 10 the sun it must be about
three O'Clock in the afternoon, and the
hunter determined to take a couple of
hours rest under tree. Toward sunset
the wild animals which hide in the
thickets at noontide are generally again
on their feet, SO he hoped still to bring
some game home with him in the even
ing. When he had found a concealed
spot where the Indians would not easily
discover him, he soon fell asleep with his
face resting on both Of his arms, 50 that
the mushetos should not annoy him.
His rifle lay close beside him, so that il
danger threatened he could seize it at
once. But now let old Slowtrap tell his
own story, he said:
"How long l lay thus / do not exactly
know, but suddenly it seemed as if a
stormy wind were raging among the
yellow leaves upon which l lay. and l
felt how they were futtering over me in
hundreds. At first l was half asleep, and
did not know whether were dreaming
or waking, but when came to myself /
felt as if some one were throwing and
covering me over with dried leaves, with
which sand and earth were mingled.
cat the first moment | was SO sur
prised-so stureAed, ,!that | did not know
what to do, but, quick as lightning, re-
fected it could not be Indians, as no
sooner would they have discovered me
than they would have given me blow
on the head with their topahawks or
axes. Before l could resolve what
should do, whether to remain
lying motionless or 80 to spring
up and seize my rifle, heard soft
footsteps among the brushwood, which
cautiously but rapidly retreated
"Now must see at least who had
been giving themselves so much trouble
about me, and raising my head as eau
tiously as possible, and turning toward
the side where heard the noise | saw
the light form of a panther which almost
in a moment glided away into the next
thicke.. That was indeed strange
thing. From my earlier youth l had
lived in the forest and associated with
old hunters, and never heard of similar
circumstance from any of them.
~ was we'll acquainted with the pam
theirs ways, and l knew that they gener-
ally reserved torn and half-caten piece
of game to feed upon afterward, if they
found nothing fresh in the meantime.
Had the panther fixed upon me for a
supper or breakfast? Plainly it could
not have been hungry or it would surely
have begun meal on the spot.