The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-07-26

ing open -mouthed when the Indian
came up and shot tho panther through
the head. He could not get the carcass
until we had chopped the stub down
aud split it open with wedges.
A couple Of weeks later hunter
came along who advised father to give
up clearing for year or two and trap
and hunt. All sorts Of furs had fair
cash value, and the state was paying
bounty on the scalps Of wolves, bears
and panthera The Indian, who had
taken tho body Of the panther of with
him, had made SIS on Its scalp. The
hunter told US how to make rude traps
and deadfalls, and tho three of VI were
soon busy with the game around us.
Ono day found path leading around
the edge of the swamp. and the soil
bore unmistakable proofs that wild
beasts passed that way. We had heard
the scream Of panthers nightly, but I
supposed tho beasts which used this
path were wolves I had made stout
rope of hickory peelings, and at favor
able point on the path ! bent over sstout
sapling, attached my rope, and then
noosed it and carried the trigger to
bush. What I wanted now was the
bait, and Gordon furnished that in the
shape of the fore quarter Of q deer he
had killed that morning. When the
trap was ready no animal could get at
the bait without putting its head in the
moose. I went to sleep that night
counting on the scalp Of wolf, and
next morning was off as soon as l
could see my way through the forest.
1t was well that was not ten minutes
earlier. was within ten rods of the
trap when was stopped dead still by
the screams of q panther. I knew tho
beast as soon as he yelled, and it was
easy to conclude that he was in
trouble. I crept forward very care
fully, hearing great thrashing about
with the yells, and when I reached a
point where could see the path saw
that big panther had noosed himself.
The moose had caught him about the
loins, SO far back that he could not get
at the rope to bite it, and the spring of
the tree barely permitted him to touch
the earth with his paws now and then.
If the other beast, trapped through
his own carelessness, was mad, this fel-
low, who had become tho victim Of .
put-up job, was furious. All the rage
in his nature dubbed up as he dangled
there aud felt that his end was near.
He was at great disadvantage, Of
course. but his struggles ~srA - vie-
lent that became alarmed aud ran
away, knowing that il he got loose he
would tear meto pieces. He was still
fast when I returned with Gordon, and
bullet quickly put an end to his ca
reer. He was an old and dangerous
beast. When we came to skin him we
found tho point of knife in his shoul-
der, and he had several scars made by
the weapons of the Indians
We did not catch sight Of q panther
for several weeks after this adventure,
although never a night passed that we
did not hear their screams. The
weather had now come ON warm, and
we could do no more at trapping.
Father fell very sick, and one day about
tho middle of June it became plain that
he must have medical assistance at once.
Gordon mounted one Of the horses for a
ride to the doctors, distance of twelve
miles, and when night came ho had not
returned. 1t had scar cely grown dark
when the wild beasts around us began
to howl and roar and skulk about the
house, and after catching sight of sew
eral wolves went in and barred the
door. There was only one opening for
a window, and over this was nailed a
blanket. 1t was high up from the
ground, and only about two feet square.
The horse was in stout pen, and there
was no fear that he could be got at.
When night had fully settled down we
were in state Of siege. Wolves to the
number Of forty or fifty surrounded the
house, and growing bolder as time
passed and their number increased, they
made furious and repeated efforts to
force nm entrance. Gordon had taken
the gun with him, but we had two
axes in the house. Mother stood at the
door with ono and I defended the
window with the other. The
wolves gnawed a hole in the door,
through which one could have passed
but for her presence and the sharp
edged weapon she welded. Every head
stuck into the opening received blow,
and the baffled animals finally ceased
their efforts at that point, although
mother dared not leave the spot. After
the wolves had worried US for an hour,
without, however, having made much
Of an effort to get in by way Of the win
dow, it being too high for them, they
left Us all Of sudden. then dragged
chest across the floor to stop the hole
in the door, and mother discovered that
father was dead. The poor man, weak
as he was, had not been able to endure
tho fright Of the attack. We did moi
have many minutes for lamen tation.
The wolves had given place to . more
dangerous enemy. There was sud-
den pounce on the roof over our heads,
accompanied by a snarl, and we knew
that panther was at hand. 1t was a
lucky thing for us that tho builders
Of the hut werc either lazy or in hur-
~, and had built only
small fireplace and small
cb;xrr.u Thera WAS no fire