The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-09-24
HOW UNCLE HARRY SHOT A PAN.
TIER.

"Say, Uncle Harry, you've shot
most everything; did you ever shoot a
pantherP' inquired Charlie, as he looked
up from the book he was reading.
"Of course he has," interrupted
Tom. Don't you remember the skin
he has in his room?'
''That panther was nothing TO my
first" said Uncle Harry, with laugh.
"Tell us about it." pleaded Charlie,
as he drew his chair closer his uncle s..
Uncle Harry laughed again good
naturally, and commenced as follows:
1t was the summer your father got
married that l took my first trip into
the Adirondacks. l went up TO Mar
tins, hired a guide, and we started off
for Little Upper Lake, where we were
to camp. We selected camping
place at the head of the lake, where
there was a good spring of water, and
soon had our tent up 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
in the daytime, and that at night the
dog would give warning. For the first
three or four days all went well; we
shot deer, caught plenty of trout,
and had good time generally. But
one afternoon, about four O clock, Hank
Sweeny, my guide, came to me with the
announcement that the dog was gone.
"Chawed up his rope, and skedad-
died." as Hank expressed it. 81
reckon he must a smelled that thar
panther that was to the spring last night
He's death on panthers."
"What are you going to do?' in
quired, anxiously.
"Well, l reckon I'll fetch some more
wood into camp, so as you can keep up
fire, then I'll take and row around
the lake and up the creek, and veil for
him: hewon't 90 fur" answered Hank.
''Then WHY not let him come home
HIMSELF" l suggested, for | had no
fancy for being left in camp alone; for
we had been in camp all the morning,
and Hank had filled my head so full of
panther stories that l trembled at every
sound.
"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 1876 eff didn't
call him off. You amt afraid to keep
camp for an hour or twoP'' he added.
! "O-h-h moor ! murmured.
For the next few minutes Hank
busted himself in collecting large pile
of pine boughs and dry sticks tor the
fire. Then he shouldered my light
rifle, and handing me his heavy one, he
remarked: 81 guess I'll start. Keep
up good fire, and don't go fur away
from it, as the panthers come close to
camp sometimes along the edge of the
evening, and climb into tree; then
when a Teller goes under, they drop on
him. I'll leave my heavy rifle for You,
for it would give you better chance if
anything should turn up .....
"Hadn't / better 90 with YOUR
ventured.
.'And leave the camp alone?' an
swered Hank, in fine scOrn. ''Why,
that deer would draw all the cats in the
neghborhood. Keep the fire a-going.
and you're all right.
| thought to myself that | 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 | could hear the splash
of the oars as he pulled up the lake.
| sat by the fire, with Hanks rifle on
my knees, listening as the sound of his
voice calling the dog died away in the
distance | examined the rifle, and
saw that it was loaded; it was one of the
old pattern repeating rifles, and
kicked like mule. ! tried to whistle,
but it was failure. | endeavored to
turn my thoughts to something else,
but it was no use. The story of the
fire and was eaten up by a panther,
of the other man who had panther
jump on him from tree and who lost
both eyes ia the struggle, and of va
r.ous other men who had been killed
or wounded by the fierce animals,
were uppermost in my mind sat
and watched the sunlight fade, the
gold and crimson melt off the fleecv
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, everything was perfect
ly still, and every sound seemed magni-
fed; the cracking of twig seemed the
tread of a bear, the, buzz of night
beetle. the growl of a panther. l sat,
don't know how long, till suddenly nv
heart almost stopped beating as l heard
the steady but stealthy sound of foot
steps on my left. / did not dare to
move. At last, with desperate exer-
ton, turned, and there in the crotch
of low tree, about twenty feet from
me, sat an immense panther lust ready
to spring. 1t was so dark that | could
just distinguish the outlines OF his form,
and his two eyes cleaning like Goals of
fire. Iraised the rifle carefully to my
shoulder. l took aim right between
the eyes, fired, and missed, supposed,
for the beast was in the same position,
and could see his eyes wink aud glare