The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-20

dangerous enemy. There was a sud
den pounce on the roof over our heads
accompanied by snarl, and We knew
that panther was at h n. It was
lucky thing for us that the builder,
of the hut wero either lazy or in a hur,
", and had Iuilt only 6
small fireplace and small
chimn ey. There was no fir
n the hearth and had the chimney
been the ordinary mammoth affair Of
the back wood we should have had s
panther on the floor in no time. The
first was soon joined By a second and
third, and then two or three Others
were heard on the ground. They may
have scented the dead or they may have
known nothing o. our great calamity.
That they were determined to get in
we were soon led to understand. J
made a smudge on the hearth to kcer
them from trying the chimney, and then
mother took one side cf the window
and the other We instinctiyely felt
that it was the point OF danger now that
the chest protected the door. We were
hardly at our posts when a panther
sprang up and tore tho blanket
down. Our light consi ted of a piece
of cotton lying in dish of coon S fat,
and at times the flame was almost out.
A couple of minutes after the blanket
was torn away panther spraag into the
opening. Had he been left undisturbcd
he cou.d have squeezed through, but
the Instant his head appeared we both
struck at him. His right fore paw
hung over the edge of the opening, and
my blow cut it clean off and dropped it
on the floor That settled one of the
visitors, although the row he made over
the loss of his PAW almost u0ncrved US.
At that moment there seemed to be five
or six of the beasts about, and it was
only short time before another sprang
into the opening. Mother struck him
square in the face, and five minutes
later severely wounded a third.
That seemed to dampen the
ardor of all, for they soon with
drew, and the wolves returned. 1t
must have Doen that these creatures
scented the dead 1t was the first time
they had appeared in such mum bcrs and
so boldly, and hunger could OF have
been the cause of it. They made little
or no effort to get at the horse, but for
an hour after their return they made
desperate and determined efforts to
break their way into the cabin. They
came against the door, six or eight Of
them at onCe-with such forco as to
shake the house, and had not the lower
log been sunk in cay ground they
would have dug their way under.
1t was midnight before we had a let
up, and the last wolf dII not leave be-
fore o'clock. Up t. this time mother
had not given way to her grief. When
danger passed away she broke down,
AN> AAO-A 14ASA ~ "a II > III SAT dIOuC ny
the door with ak in hand. looked for
Gordon at an early hour, but he did not
appear. About 10 o'clock the horse
came home, bitten IN a terrible manner,
and so serious were his injuries that he
died before night. We knew from the
wounds Inflicted on the horse that he
had been pursued by wolves, and there
was little doubt about the fate of his
rider, We dared not start out in search
of help, as we knew not which way to
go, and we dared not leave the body of
the dea in the house another night for
fear OF the wolves. We waited until
3 o'clock, and then, hearing nothing
from Gordon, we dug grave, wrapped
poor fathers remains in a sheet, and
buried them as best we coull. Next
day some hunters called, and they went
to look fer Gordon. He had been to
the doctors, to find him too sick to
come. Ga the way back he had been
chased by drove Of wolves, and, while
the horse had escaped, nothing but a
few bones could be ioun Of the man. -