The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-09-17
UNCLE HARRY'S FIRST PANTHER!l

UNCLE HARRY'S FIRST PANTHER.g
Say, UncTq Harry, you've shot
most everythinm lid you ever shoot a
panther inquired Charlie, as heloo<ed
up from the book he was reading.
COT Course He has,o' interrupted.
Tom. - Don't yOn remember TIE skin
he has in his roOm?'
'' THAT panther wa; nothing to nv
first, saiduUncle Harry, with a lalirhs
a Tel q9,abqHt it, pleaded Charlie,
as he, drew his chair closer to his uh-
clelsN tiiin0m syl-Wi raDs IS 'fn o.
81 Uncle Harry aaqgled again good
naturedly, and commenced as follows:
~ 1t WAS the 9sutfimef Your father" got
married that took nav first tripJhIto,
the Adrondacks. J went up TO Mar
tin'S, hired a guide, and we started off
for Little Upper Lake, where we were
to camp, We selected a B, canning
place at the head OF the lake, where
there was a good sprihgs Of water. and
soon had our tent ups and the camp
fixed. Certain bear and panther tracks
around the spring did not add to our
sense of security; but the guide assured
me that they would not come into camp
dog would give warning. For the first
three or four days. all went well; we
shot a deer, caught plenty of trout,
and had a goodttHle GENERALLY But
one Afternoon, about four q,flock, Hank
Sweeny, my guide, came to me with the
announcements that the dog was gone.
'.Chawed up ibis yope, and skedad-
died, as Hank expressed it, 81,
reckon he'm a. srn6lled that thar
panther thatwas TO the spring lastmight.
He's death on pantherS," ...,.., ,.l
What ate' you go'ng to dopr | IN
iquired, ganXiously. .2i9 lu.uGWuN
"Wel, | reckon I'll fetch some more
wood into camp, so as you can keep up
a fire, then I'll take and row around
the lake and up the creek, andRelI for
nj him; he won't go riffurr1 " answered
rThen why not let him come home
himSelf?' | suggested, for | had no
fancy for being left in camp alone; for
we had been in camp all the morning.
and Hank had filed my head so full OF
panther stories that trembled at every
sound. H p g "t M rs#'H "a
J"Why, you see, he'd start out for
home over on Long Lake eff he got
lost" explained Hank. '|And then eff
he should tree a panther he'd set at
the foot of the tree till l976 EFF / didn't
call him of. You amt afraid to keep
camp for an hour or two?" he added. I
"O-h-h n-o.op' mupmured. \
For the next few minutes Hank
busted himself in collecting a large pile
OF pine boughs and dry sticks for the
fire. Then he shouldered. my light
rifle, and handing me his heavy one, he
remarked .sIguess nj start. Keep
up a good fire, and. don't 90 fur away /
caInp sometimes along the edge of the I
evening, and climb into "a tree; then
when a teller goes under, they drop on
him. I'll leave my heavy rife for You, :
forit would giYelyOu better chance if
anything should turn,up., .a.r.
=" Hadn't l better 90 with you?" |
ventured. fa le.rubGu1 9"9F -' i
, " And Leave the camp alone P'n an
swered Hank, in fine sqorn. l'Why, |
that deer would draw all the cats in the /.
neighbOrhood. Keep the fire a-going, +.
and you're all right, ~. ..r...I E.'.,
Thought to myself that I would
much prefer to be out of the. way when /.
all the cats in the neighborhoOd came
to investigate the deer; but Hank was
in the boat, and Icould hear the splash 4
OF the oars as he pulled up the lake,
| sat by the fire, with Hanks rifle on
my knees, listening aslthe sound OF his !
voice calling the dog died away in the /
distance, I examined The rifle, and |
saw thatit was losted; it WIS one of the 7
old pattern aTepeatingd rifles, andi
kicked like a mule | tried to whistle, I.
but twas failure. Y endeavored to
turn my thoughts to something else, y,
but it was no use. The story of the
man who fell asleep Beside the camp
fire and was eaten up by a,panther,
of the other man who had Il panther
jumD on him from tree and who lost
both eyes IN the struggle, and of va-I
riouS other men who had been killed
or wounded by the fierce animals,
were uppernost in my mind l sat
and watched the sunlight fade, the
gold and crimson melt off the feecy
clouds, and the shadows as they gath |
cred thicker and deeper in the val .
leys, Except for the occasional weird
and demon-like laugh of the loon far
down the lake, every thing was perfect
" still, and every sound seemed magni- !