Connecticut western news., 1888-07-04

into tho cave. It was fivo minutes be- ioro I heard hin working his way in, and by this time I had re- covered by breath and nerve. was certain he could not reach me within six feet, and was rather glad to hear him whcczing and snorting as he pulled himself along. By and ly l saw his eyes shine. He could como no further. His claws dug at the rocks and his roars of rage deafcncd me, but was safe. It was now my turn, and I gavo him two shots from tho revolver which caused him to roloublo his roars of rage. For about ten minutes I felt v,ry queer over the situation, but all of su 1den it struck. me thst had gained othing by tho change. In place of being fugi- tive was prisoner. Tho bear showed no disposition to retreat, and now be- came aware of tho fact that tho cave had rank smell and that the body of the bear prevented the fresh air from enter ing. I felt that I must drivo him out, and Idid very foolish thing. edged nearer to him and put four bullet, into his head, and after a long-drawn moan he closed his eyes and died. congrat- u!atcd myself for moment, but then it dawncd upon mo that I had choked up tho passage to liberty with the carcass of bear wei shing at least 600 pounds. I thought might Do ablo to push it be- fore mo, but when made tho attempt I could not stir it an inch. had done an idiotic thing, aud there was no way to repair the error.
 Twas wondering how I should get out of it, when heard the scream of another animal at tho entrance of the cave, and in moment moro realized that the mother of the cub panther had arrived. It was we'll for me that the body of tho bear blocked tho entrance. Tho panther went will with fury when her kitten began to call. Sho bit and c,awcd at tho bear, and by great effort pulled it back few inches. Had not the space been so contracted she could probably have drawn it out, but she did not havo a fair show to use her strength. Her eyes looked at mo over the body of the bear, and if one cvcr saw furyit was in those orbs. gav, her couple of shots, hoping to drive her off. I think I wounded her Tn the head, for she set up terrible screaming and ran out, but in two or three minutes she was back again with moro fury than ever. now pushed her kitten forward, hop ing she would be appeased at it's restor- ation. It climbed over tho boar and reached her, and she took it in her mouth and backed out. was pleased man over thls result, for the cave was as hot as an oven, smelled powerfully stout of partners, and the powder smokc almost stjf1ed me. Being bit rattled had brought on m inteaso thirst, and felt that I had got to do something pretty soon or suffocate. Pretty soon I crept for ward, and began pushing at the big carcass, but had not been engaged over two or threo minutes when tho panther returned. She had carried her kitten to place of safety, and was now bent on revenge. She realized that the carcass must be got out of the way be- fore sho could com, at me, and had not seized the grizzly by the car and hung on she would have pulled the body out of the cave. Sho hung to it for half an hour before sh, quit the job, and then shs retired in way which left no doubt that she woul d watch at the entrance.
 When the panther had gone struck match and looked at my watch. It was nearly oon, and was really suffer- ing for water. There was damp spot on the rocks over my head, and I licked it with my toagus and ia that way got some relief, but I would have traded my whole outfit for one glass of cool water. felt that I was in a bad box, onl as is generally the case in such instances, I thought of every way out of it but the easiest one. I reloaded my revolver and planned to wait until the panther would leave the ncighborhood, but about 9 o'clock I suspected, from tho move ments in the tunnel, that the one had encountered had hunted up hes mate and brought him to tho front. Such soon proved to be the fact, but as only one could enter the place at time, it was no advantage to them. They took turns tugging at tho carcass of tho bear and the new conner would have dragged it out in short ordor but for my inter- ference. There was Q space of about six inches between tho body and the roof of tho tunnel, and, though the fumes of the powder almost choked me, l showed my revolver along until close to the panther and then put two bullets into him; he let go hls hold and backed out, and the way he dil nv, up and down that ravino made my hear stand. had wounded both and neither of them ventured into the place again. For about an hour heard them growl-
 ing and snarling outside, and every click of their claws on tho rocks was plainly audiblo but by and by they gave it up as bal job and went away.
 It was now close on to o'clock, and I went at the carcass with the determi- nation to push it befors me. It was too