The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-06-28

AAo BriALiy uiu Hot AolioW ~ OuCo
into the cave. It was five minutes be-
fore heard him working his way
in, and by this time I had re-
covered by breath and nerve. I was
certain ho could not reach mo within
six feet, and was rather glad to hear
him Wheeling and snorting as he pulled
himself along. By and by I saw his
eyes shine. He could como no further.
His claws dug at the rocks aud his roars
of rage deafencd me, but was safe. 1t
was now my turn, and I gave him two
shots from tho revolver which caused
him to redoublo his roars of rage. For
about ten minutes I felt very queer
over the situation, but all of sudden it
struck me that had gained nothing by
tho change. In place Of being a fugi-
tive ! was prisoner. The bear showed
no disposition to retreat, and now be-
came aware of the fact that the cave had
a rank smell and that the body of the
bear prevented the fresh air from enter
ing. Ifelt that 1 must drive him out,
and Ibid very foolish thing. I edged
nearer to him and put four bullet, into
his head, and after long-drawn moan
he closed hi, eyes and died. congrat-
ulated myself for moment, but then it
dawncd upon me that had choked up
the passage to liberty with the carcass
of bear weighing at least 600 pounds.
l thought might be able to push it be-
foro me, but when mado tho attempt
l could not stir it an inch. I had done
an idiotic thing, aud there was no way
to repair the error.
was wondering how I should get
out of it, when l heard the scream
of another animal at the entrance of the
cave, and in a moment more realized
that the mother of the cub panther had
arrived. 1t was we'll for mo that the
body of the bear blocked the entrance.
The panther went wild with fury when
her kitten began to call. She bit and
clawed at the 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 have fair show to use her strength.
Her eyes looked at me over the body of
the bear, and If one ever saw furyit was
in those orbs. Igavo her a couple of
shots, hoping to drive her of. I think
l wounded her In the head, for she set
up terrible screaming and ran, out,
but in two or three minutes she was
back again with more fury than ever.
now pushed her kitten forward, hop
ing she would be appea'ed at its restor-
alton. 1t climbed over the bear and
reached ner, anu sne took 1t in her
mouth and backed out. was pleased
man over this result, for the cave was
as hot as an oven, smelled powerfully
stout of panthers, and the powder smoke
almost stifled me. Being a bit ratified
had brought on an intense thirst,
and I felt that I had got to
do something pretty soon OF
suffocate. Pretty soon I crept for
ward, and began pushing at tho big
carcass, but had not been engaged over
two or three 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 she could com, at me, aud had
not seized the grizzly by the ear and
hung OIL she would have pulled the
body out of the cave. She hung to it
for half an hour before she quit the
job, and then she retired in way
which left no doubt that she woul d
watch at the entrance.
When the panther had gone l struck
match and looked at my watch. II
was nearly oon, and was really suffer.
| irg for water. There was damp spot
on the rocks over my head, and
licked it with my tongue and in that
way got some relief, but l would have
traded my whole outfit for one glass
of cool water. felt that l was in {
bad box, and as is generally the
case in such instances, l thought
of every way out of it but the easiest
one. / reloaded my revolver and
planned to wait until tho panther woulo
leave the neighborhood, but about
o'clock / suspected, from tho move
ments in the tunnel, that the one l had
encountered had hunted up heT mate
and brought him to tho front Sucl
soon proved to be the fact, but as onl,
one could enter the place at time, i
was no advantage to them. They tool
turns tugging at the carcass of the beal
and the new conner would have dragged
it out in short order but for my inter
ference. There was a space of abou
six inches between the body and the
roof of the tunnel, and, though the
fumes of tho powder almost choked me
l showed my revolver along until close
to the panther and then put two bullet:
iuto him; he let 60 his hold and backed
out, and the way he did rave up and
down that ravine made my hear stand
l had wounded both and neither oi
them vcntured into the place again
For about an hour heard them growl
ing and snarling outside, and ever
click Of their claws on the rocks wa
plainly audible but by and by they CAV
it up as bad job and went away.
1t was now close on to o'clock, ant
l went at the carcass with the determi
nation to push it before me. 1t was to-
late; the limbs had stiffened like sticks
and the feet caught at every inequalit.