The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-04-06

the wilderness twenty miles fro the
nearest settlement. Once a month the
COW w-boys rode out to look after cattle but
the crows might have picked his bones by
the time they came again. For he knew
from story books how a grizzly would
wait round a tree till its prisoner was
forced down by hunger or fell from ex-
hau,tlon. But even should he keep his
seat starvation would come. He tried to
remember what the old hunters in the
story books did when freed, but of all the
adventures he could recall not one seemed
applicable to this case. He had no flask
of powder to blow the animal up, nor rope
to use as laSSo; he could not blind him
with fire, nor elude him in any way. Those
hunters in the stories were always brave
men, and just then he was trembling as
with asue. He blubbercd again as he
| thought of his mangled comrades and the
story he would have to tell their friends,
should be indeed escape. And so an hour
passed. The smiling and growing had
ceased some time. A little distance off
the herd of mules was browsing peacefully
and not far from the tents the bell mare
stood teth, red But Dan had read too
much of bears to believe this one had
gone. If no help should come he might
steal down the tree, make dash for the
mare and perhaps escape. But he was
him the moment he touched ground
and then he remembered that grizzlies
could outrun most horses No, that must
be a last resort. Already he was faint
and shvering. He had been two hours
in the tree and it seemed hardly possible
that he could hold his seat there till morn
ing.
But what is that, Another sound comes
from the brush, a scream, mOurnful, long
drawn. 1t is the wall of a panther, and
panther can climb. Again the cry rings
out into the still night, but the boy scarcely
hears it as he scrambles, slides, half falls
from the rough lmbed tree. Quickly he
was on the ground; dozen bounds and
the intervening space was cleared, blow
loosened the picket stake, and with leap
he was upon the bell mares back. The
frightened creature sprang away at the
touch of the spurs while the rider urged
her faster with yells and blows. Glanc-
ing back he saw q ,rk object spring from
one of the tents. then another and anoth
er. He fancied he heard them scream, he
could not tell for the mare had dashed
among the loose herd aud frightened by
her wild gait they stampeded madly off
into the chaparral. Dan knew then that
the panthers were following and dug his
spurs into the creatures sides.
Rearing, plunging, crashing through
| the brush the animals broke into the open
plain, then away across the sandy desert
they dashed like wild mustangs. HatleSs,
with garments torn to shreds, the youth
clung to the white mares neck and With
out saddle or bride piled his spurs furi-
ously. Away, away. only away from
bears and panthers, he cared not whittier.
And away scurried the tinkling bell and
after it every mule of the train.
lor h., foil -a1
back the trail she had come and Just be
fore day stopped with all the mules at
stable door where they had been recently
fed Dan, more dead than alive, was
helped into house and gaining his breath
began to pour out to the citizens the
nights adventure In vain they declared
no bears were in those mountains, that cat
| tie ran at large there the year round, and
panthers were unheard of. Had he not
seen the grizzly tear his friends to pieces
and did not the panthers follow him in the
moonlight and stampede the mules. There
stood the animals run nigh to death and
himself torn and frightened out Of his wits.
1t did seem strange. The men could not
understand it, They would wait through
the day however and if nothing should be
heard from the boys by night they would
go on the morrow to the mountain.
Late in the afternoon solitary figure
was seen approaching across the desert.
The day had been hot, the trail was sandy
and to the mountain, twenty miles away,
was not drop of water. The man was
afoot and he seemed weary. The little
| crowd about the station watched him
| curiously as he drew nearer till presently
one made out the Mormon.
Perhaps the old man satisfied their ask
ing, and Dams. | can't say, for whenever
I nupSt iOned him afterwards he spoke al
! ways of something else or suddenly grew
| deaf Certain it is that Dan took the
next train for Pennsylvania where be is
| now recounting marvellous exploits to
| credulous friends. The following day the
| Mormon mounted his saddle animal and
about twilight rejoined the boys at the
mountain camp, finding them worn with
| the tedious wait and sick from the footed
| water.
JOHN W. HAYS, JR.