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

supposlng was attacked,
and an Indian who was hunt
ing a mile or moro distant was guided
to the spot by the racket. The sharp
claws sent splinters of wood flying all
about a9d the 1.-the body bent and
twisted like snake. We had no gun,
and father was too weak to venture to
use the axe. We were, therefore, stand
ing open -mouthed when the Indian
came up and shot the 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 OF two and trap
and hunt. All sorts of furs had a fair
cash value, and the state was paying q
bounty on the scalps of wolves, bears
and panthcrs. The Indian, who had
taken the body of the panther off with
him, had made $15 on its scalp. The
hunter told us how to make rude traps
and deadfaIls, and the three of US were
soon busy with tho game around US.
One day I 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 l
supposed the beast which used this
path were wolves. l had made a stout
rope of hickory peelings, and at favor
able point on the path bent over stout
sapHng, attached my rope, and then
noosed it and carried the trigger to a
bush, What l wanted now was the
bait, and Gordon furnished that in the
shape of the fore quarter of 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. | went to sleep that night
counting on the scalp Of a wolf, and
next morning | was off as soon as I
could see my way through the forest.
1t was we'll that l was not ten minutes
earlier. was within ten rods of the
trap when l was stopped dead still by
the screams of panther. I knew the
beast as soon as he yelled, and it was
easy to conclude that he was in
trouble. l crcpt forward very care
fully, hearing a great thrashing about
with the yclIs, and when l reached
point where l could see the path 1 saw
that ii panther had noosed himself.
Tie moose had caught him about the
loins, SO far back that he could not get
at the rope to bite it, aad the spring OF
the tree barely permitted hlm to touch
the earth with his paws now and then.
If the other beast, trapped through
his own carelessness, was mad, this fcl-
low, who had become the victim of
put-up job, was furious. All the rage
in his nature Lubbled up as he dangled
there and felt that his end was near.
He was at great disadvantage, of
course, but his struggles were so vio-
lent that l became alarmed and ran
away, kn owing that if he got loose he
would tear me to pieces. He ) still
fast when returned with Gordon, and
n Lul.et quickly put an end to his ca
reer. lie WIS an old and a dangerous
beast. When we came to skin him we
found the point of a 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 row como on warm, and
We could do no more at trapping.
Father fell very sick, and one day about
the middle Of June it became plain that
h. must have medical assistance at once.
Gordon mounted one of the horses for a
tide to the doctors, Il distance of twelve
miles, and when night came he 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 l 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
grluad, and only about two feet square
The horse was in a stout pen, and there
was no fear that he could be got at.
When night had fully settled down we
were in a 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 ar octrauce. Gordon had taken
the gua with him, Lut we had two
axes in the house. Mother stood at the
door VIII one and l defended the
window with the other. The
wo.ves gnawed hole in the door,
through which one could have passed
Lut for her presence and the sharp
edged weapon she wielde |. Every head
stuck into the opening received a bow,
and the baflai animals finally ceased
their efforts at that poiat, although
mother dared not leave the spot. After
the wolves had worried Us for an hour,