The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-07-04

OAAS O0A 1s AOO1s
this very tsnnsl that hs had ~ his
trap. Upon Lin hands md knees hs
cautiously crawled into the dark pas
sage. The trap was gone. The beast
had stepped into IL, and then pulled
the "anchor" loose and dragged trap and
all further under the laurel. Big Tom
IVES not the man TO turn back. Almost
any other hunter would have hesitated
before facing . wounded panther in
such Q place; but Tom thought Of his
Christmas pig, and his anger st its loss
made him reckless. Slowly and eau
tiously, with ride in hand, he crept on.
The rays Of the sun struggled through
the dense, snow covered foliage, and
barely showed him the pathway through
the tangled brush.
Mitchell's High Peak, rising With Q
sharp incline from the crest Of the ridge
on the south, falls of ON the north side
In an irregular precipice several hum
dred feet high. This steep wall is brok-
en- ct intervals by narrow, shelf like
cra4s. among which bears and other
wild animals make their way from one
to another Of the dense jungles Aanking
the peak on either side.
By this time the "burrow" which Tom
had been following had led him within
. few rods Of one Of these rocky
ashelves. A dozen yards ahead he
could see an opening in the tunnel and
the path leading out across the ledge
to the jungle beyond.
He had paused here to consider
what it was best to do, when with rat
tie OF chains and savage screech, the
panther sprang mp from behind 0
boulder and rushed at him. At such
cloes quarters rife was useless, and
there was no time for him TO draw his
knife. lnstinctively, ~ il rushed upon
him, Tom seized the creature by the
thr oat, threw his knees upon its body,
and, by might and main, pinned it TO
the ground. The strong steel trap had
caught the beast by one fore paw; yet
even thus encountered, Tom found
that, giant as he was, he had met more
than his match.
The great cat writhed and struggled I:
and for some time the old mans brawny
hands gripped its throat like wise.
One fore paw was fastened in the trap
and Tom had his knee ON the other
but meanwhile the hind feet were free
and doing serious work. The sharp,
nooked claws haa torn the mans aeath-
er teggins INTO pieces, and were iacerat-
ing nus hmos terribly. IL he could have
osed ms hand, the knife In his belt
would nave ended the terrible struggle;
Dus 70 loosen MS grip upon the crea-
sures thfoat ior an instant would have
oeea M almost certain death for him.
ne cailed ior neiP. but none OF us
VINO had tardlly followed, were within
nis nearing. oometMng, ne knew,
must De done quickly, for he was bleed
1ng ana Oegan 10 lose strength.
uls grasp was siackehing: rev mo-
menus more and he would be ct the
mercy OF snose savage jaws. NOT Tar
a..eaa as :. tie as igls was streaming INTO the
ala:sI snG " 'ae aark Darro%, ana ne coaia
pl1sIy see the rocky Ieage beyond. A
suuaeh tno9gnt occurred 10 hm II ne
couid only drag the panther outside the
laurel 10 the Drink OF the crag, there
woaia De 9 chanoe tor INN. A dozen
yards-couid ne DO it?
eummon,ng all ms strength, the old
man p9sned tne beast few inches TO-
waIa tne opening. IL shrugged furl.
ousiy; no one save q mountain giant
could nave held 1t down. Again and
agan the old hunter moved forward,
an9 sgsn wooid ne nave TO pause and
u8nten DIS gr1p ABOUT the neck OF the
Struggling 6east:
ne had almost reached the opening
xnen ne found that ne was growing
iaant from loss OF blood; objects began
70 grow Diearded and misty. But he
drove oack the 1alntness and moved
sgaln. he was Ut the end OF the
pnrfow.
NJ One more effort and ne was out:
nus nands were numb; the Cliff and
trees above seemed like shadow, ndis-
tinct and IT. tremulous. Could he move
agalnY The panther, nearly suffocated,