Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-22

off far, and, when tired, would lie
down somewhere near me, and chew
her cud with great content. [ used to
call her Aunt Peggy, from an old dame
in Nova Scotia whose cast of counten-
ance l whimsically imagined the
sleeps face resembled.
''But for all the days were so lonely,
the nights were at first almost unbear-
able-miles away from any human be-
ing, and with only the wild howl of
the coyote, the wildcats scream, and
sometimes the lonely cry of the noun
tain lion to lull one to sleep.
Sometimes the sheep were restless
and would bleat half the night. max
ing such a din that there was no sleep
for any one.
''Once q mountain-lion, which are
rather cowardly creatures, after all,
came about the corral.
"The sheep at once detected its
presence, and stamped their feet and
pufed as if in great terror. 1t was
some time before [ discovered it,
creeping up from some scrub cotton
woods down by a stream at which the
sheep drank night and morning.
sit was moonlight night, and as it
drew nearer [ slipped cartridge into
my rife, and made ready to defend my
little citadel and the sheep under my
charge.
Il wasn't sure at first which he in
tended to attack, for almost all wild
animals, however fierce, dislike to ven
ture inside an Enclosure, even if the
fence is quite low.
''But in q few minutes his determin-
alton to sup off mutton was evident.
He crept along stealthily-a few yards
at time, like cat watching bird
in the grass, and his long tail switched
nervously from side to side-nearer
and nearer.
cat length he reached a knoll not
far from the corral fence. He raised
himself for a moment to sean the sur
roundingS before springing upon it,
and felt that was my time.
Aiming my rifle as steadily as [
could, sent the heavy charge singing
toward the enemy With a scream
that rang far and wide, the brute
leaped into the air, then fell back on
to the knoll
81 thought had made sure of him,
and | was about to descend to have a
nearer view, when the lion recovered
and began making off toward the cot
tonwoods, snarling and growing.
81 didn't want him to get away, and
running out a little way, fired again,
but without effect, [ think, for it didn't
stop him, and ne disappeared in the
brush moment later.
He did not come back, and the
next morning, when taking the band
out to the range, came upon the lion,
dead, down by the stream. My first
shot had probably given him his
DEATH"
''But about the grizzly?" interrupted
the captain.
''Oh, yes" said the cook. "It was
two OF three months after I had the
visit from the lion that the grizzly
paid me a call. 1t was a cold night.
about the middle of November, the
time when the winter rains set in.
81 had about concluded that my
tdbLado was little open for the
weather, and the next time the major
domo came out [ intended to order me
a hut, such as most of the other shep-
herds had.
sit was rainy, yet not dark, for it
was the time of the full moon. | had
sewed together the skins of the sheep
[ had killed for mutton, and had them
stretched for protectiOn-such as it
was-above my bed-place. Beneath
this had crawled and listened TO the
lonely bowls of the coyotes till | had
dropped asleep.
along in the night I was awakened
suddenly by the tramp, tramp of heavy
feet about the tGbIddO.
"For moment [ thought that the
sheep had got out of the corral, and l
sprang up to see; but instead of the
white coats of my flock, [ deserted
big beast accommodating leisurely
about my bed-chamber, and consider
ing whether it was best to mount it.
Il was Mortified, for | knew at once
that it was 4 grizzly come down out of
he mountains.
81 seized my rifle, which, for some
unaccountable reason, had gone to
bed without loading, and feeling out
my cartridge-box, quickly slipped in a
charge. l peered over the edge, when
10! the brute, hearing my movements,
was staring at me full in the face few
feet below.
Taking careful aim down at him, /
pulled the trigger, but, to my con-
sternation, the rifle would not 90 off.
Frantically, | pulled and tugged, but
with the same result. 1t had rained
in the night pretty hard, and the
water had run down into the box of
| cartridges.
well, there 1 was, like a turkey
roosting on fence, with fox within
reach The old fellow, after cycling
me awhile and growing ominously,
began to claw into the posts which
held up the ta5Lad0.
Il had now no doubt as to his in
tentions. He was coming up--if he
could-to look me over. But l rather
thought he couldn't get up.
chastity selected another cartridge,
| withdrawing the first; but this, too, was
of no good. l tried another and an
other, and could hear the bears claws
tearing into the posts, trying to
get good hold, for they were too small
| to climb-at least, that was the inten-
ton of the builder.
AT last one of the cartridges proved
| dry, but, in my excitement, | only
grazed the animal, sending him into a
terrible rage, and he began clawing in
! dead earnest.
Il tried another cartridge, but. like
| the first, it was wet, and, disguised, |
| began hunting about the tdbt0dO for
something to ward off the terrible
beast supposing he could get up to me.
MY hunting-knife l always carried,
which could be used at close quarters,
/ nnI nv lnicr f,.1-;n rr.,n., n thinl- nd