The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-09-30
INIGHT IN THE WOODS.

Elbow in the world do people endure
life in large cities, shut up in offices or
counting rooms like evergreen canaries
in their miserable little cages? / should
die. know l should. could not come,
20 or stay, Just rs fancy inclined me.
For my part, want liberty; must nave
liberty, too"
"Raise row, and risk your life accord
ing to your own free WILL" interrupted
the listener, looking up at the face of his
friend, as he stood with features beaming
with enthusiasm, and rifle in hand, ready
to start out upon the trackless prairie in
search of game, adventure or anything
else that promised excitement.
'No, John, you wrong me-" replied the
first speaker. 81 am u civil sort of a. fell
low and don't want any trouble with
mankind in general, but do like to be
one of party sent out to look after the
'hostiles,' and If there's any scout
Ing to be done want to 60, and the moro
dangerous the service the better / like 1t;
but in tho absence of anything better
can 60 into the territory upon hunting
expedition, and sometimes / find ex-
element enough in one day to last me a
whole week"
The tract of land lying next to the
southern line of KANSAS, known rs the
Cherokee strip, is unOccupied by either
whites or Indians, with the exception OF
. few cowboys, left there to watch the
large herds of cattle pastured by white
men upon this portion Of the government
land. And rs this region is well watered
and timbcred, with an abundance OF the
finest pasturasc, with 50 few to modest the
same-the woods are literally alive with
ieer, antelope, squirrels, quail, wild
turkeys, etc.-Indian territory has been
correctly styled the garden Of America.
The climate is mild, the soil fertile and
adapted to all kinds of fruits, vegetables
and grains raised in any part of the tenn
pcrate zoac, End the fact THAT iG has an
abundance of timber, OH which the south
I'm and western portions of Kansas are
almost entirely destitute, gives it an ire
sistible fascination for settlers along the
ine, and hunters go from the state with
II the territorial limits - revel in this
tempting wilderness. 1t was from this
.egion that our young friend, Joseph
Williams, had just returned, and we will
ct him tell the story Of his adventure in
ais own words.
at was in December, but the grass was
IT'LL green in the woods, and the squirrels
we're yet engaged in the work of boarding
Up the vast treasures Of walnuts, hickory
luts, acorns, ETC., which literally covered
The ground.
Tao nights wcro cool and frosty, and
he days warm and clear, and l mentally
decided that it had the finest climate Of
my portion Of America. / built little
og cabin III which to stay nights, and
never failed to bring home as much game
IS could carry. But shooting deer and
turkey was too tame; l wanted TO come
across some game that had fight in it, and
came very near getting my wish. ! had
yone greater distance than usual one
lay and night overlook ME when was
about four miles from the cabin.
II had been tramping around all day,
and, feelin, fatigued, began to look for
! suitable place in which TO pass the night
without returning to the cabin. l found
an old tree that had been blown down by
the roots, and the cavity made in the
earth was filed with dry leaves, evidently
lrifted in by the eddying currents of the
wind.
"'What capital place to slccp' l
;hought, and, standing my rifle against
rec, kintlled u fire, broiled some quails
or my supper, and after satisfying my
hunger l lay down upon my leafy bed,
with my revolver under my head, and was
soon in sound and rcstful slumbcr.
Several hours must have elapsed when /
vas awakened by feeling warm breath
lpon my check, accompanied by snuff
Ding sound.
'.In moment was fully aroused and
became conscious of the fact that some
argc animal was standing over Inc.
could sec the grcenish eyes just above my
lace and discern by the dim starlight the
outlines of powerful frame, while the
mufIing and smelling about my face con-
Sinced me that the beast was trying to
discover the nature of the intruder, for
The thought flashed across my mind that l
had taken possession Of this creatures
lair.
"And was equally anxious to know
what animal was thus attempting to make
ny acquaintance. Surely that powerful
frame could belong to no other than the
great scourgc of the wilderness, the Amer
can panther, and was completely Mt his
mercy; tho least movement on my part
might cause him to seize me by tho throat,
md with heart beating audfbly, lay per-
tectly quiet awaiting tho conclusion of
the examination. It seemed rs if he
never would be satisfied, but at length he
paused, stood still for moment, then lay
Town and curlcd himself up by my side,
evidently reconciled to having me for q
pedfellow.
81 remained motionless until Thought
nc was asleep, then cautiously reached for
! revolver, but at the first movement the
beast uttered low growl and placed his
huge paw upon my arm. Again l lay
quiet, and after few moments he laid his
acad against my shoulder, and again went
70 sleep. dared not stir; the paw
apon my arm was rs large rs my hand,
md felt the long cat-like claws, when
he placed it there, although they were
Drawn back so as not to pierce the flesh,
rs long rs remained rnotiOnlcss, but the
least movement caused retaining pres
sure which l feared might draw blood,
and, if it was indeed q panther, / had
good reason to dread such a result. had
40 alternative but to lie still and await
The coming. day, but the situation was
tedious. Every bone in my body achcd
Tor q change of position, which l dared
not make and it seemed as if the night
would last forever; but ut length the red
lening clouds in the cast announced the
welcome fact that day had dawned, and
Is the suns first beams came shining
through the trees the animal slowly rose
and stretched himself lazily, like some
,vergrown mastiff, and 1 had good
opportunity of estimating his enormous
yize and power. had not been mistaken
IN supposing it to be u panther, but was
astonished at the proportions which he
aad attained.
''The great paws were fully rs large rs
my hand, and he placed his forefeet upon
my breast and began licking my face,
while fairly trembled least the great
rough tongue should draw blood, for at
the instant of tasting it knew he would
become ravenous for more, but at length
ne turned from me and commenced eating
turkey that 1 had left lying by tho
smouldering camp fire, still keeping an
eye upon me. 1 thought, perhaps, he
might become sufficiently absorbed to en-
able me to reach my revolver, but ut the
first movement of my hand he dropped
the turkey and looked Mt me with q growl.
"If that was only enough to satisfy his
hunger ] would probably be safe for
time, at last, but whether it would be
sufficient or not was question. He
finished it at last, and came back within
four feet of mo and lay down with his
head resting upon his paws, like great
watch dog, and looked ut me with his
savage, green eyes. He will surely go to
sleep now,'I thought, and if he would
only relax his vigilance for an instant
could obtain possession of a revolver, but
Just as began to think that 1 discovered
signs of drowsiness he started up, and
with ey as fixed and ears erect stood for a