Wichita eagle., 1888-06-12
THE UNWELCOME VISITOR,

much that way, do hit? But you see me
md Calline have raised seven children,
one after anuther, nd they all walIered
on that thar hide lettin' alone of usein'
hit for a bed kiver every winter fur
twenty year come next Janowary."
Old Teb was a grizzled, wiry hunter of
the Blue Ridge mountains, whose long
rifle and coonskin pouch were better
known in the wilds Of Buncombe county
in those days than the features of far
more celebrated men. His cabin was a
mere shell of half decayed logs, with a
dirt floor, and its roof held down by stones
and poles In summer it was airy or wet,
in winter smoky and cold. Dried venison
hung from the grimy joists; lean hounds
slept in the ashes of the fireplace, and on
the outer walls the skins Of foxes, coons
and groundhOgs were stretched out to dry
in odorOus profusion.
His wife, lank, sallow woman, clad in
q dirty homespun, was ''grittin' roas'in'
years" on a home made tin crater for
their daily supply of grit bread" while
several ragged, clay eating children SQUAT
ted about, vacantly silent and observing.
The youngest boy suclied its thumb upon
the panther skin, and Teb himself was
emitting some CREASED wads for his long
rifle.
Painters nowadays is erbout ez skaze
as hens teeth" he continued, ''but that
thar varmint war my fus' one, tho I've
knocked over a many a one sence"
So Teb repeated the oft told tale that
hunters delight in and without following
his peculiar idiom, we will give the sub
stance of his narrative in our own words.
Several years before his marriage he
had lived in this same cabin with his
mother and sister. One bitter winters
night he and his sister were left alone,
their mother having gone down to the
little store at Lasher's Gap to do some
trading. She was not expected back be-
fore morning. Teb was then lad of 16,
and Mag some two years his junior.
1t had been bad winter. There was
no ''mast' in the woods, and wild ami
mails as well as tame were furnishing.
Bear had been seen down in the caves.
and the melancholy howl of the wolves
had been heard at night far from their
usual haunts. 1t was said that a large
panther had caught yearling close by
''old man Ferry's" cow pen, and many
were the injunctions laid on Teb and Mag
by their mother as to remaining in after
dark
So that night they brought in the yell
low ''cur dog" for company, barred the
door, built a rousing fire of oak and pine
knots and felt quite cozy, despite the cold
draught, pouring in through the half
chinked logs, or the sad whistle of the
night wind down the gorge, where "Yal-
Ter creek moaned and toiled on its course
down to the river below! But, as the fire
died, they went TO bed to keep warm; and
Teb was just dropping into a doze when
he heard the house cat mewing to be let
In. Then n plaintive cry fioated down the
hollow, that seemed not unlike that of a
child ip distress, winding up, however,
with prolonged snarl. The cat re-
doubled its entreaties, and scratched
Justify at the door
Teb rose, shivering with cold and vague
apprehension, and, slipping the wooden
bar, let the poor creature in. The cry
was again raised nearers by, entering the
open door with startling distinctness.
There was a ferocious ring about its con-
GLIDING echo that caused Teb to slam to
and rebar the door with precipitate eager
ness.
His precaution was timely, for in
minute stealhy unhuman footsteps were
audible without, then came fierce breath
scratching sound, while the dog, that had
at first raised his bristles with low growls,
now skunk under the bed with an igno-
minious whine. 1t realized the danger
that menaced them, and Teb, with rising
fears, thought of the widest tales Of
savage beasts he had ever heard, and
wished vainly for a rifle.
"What is hit, Teb?'' whispered Mag,
who had walked up.
'Painters-or mebbe bears" Quoth
Teb, as though the yard was thronged
with them. Il wish we'uns had pap's
old rifle.
The animal, after shifting at the door,
began slowly circling round the cabin |
The fire had burned low, and Teb, fearful |
of the strength of the logs, crouched near |
the bed, where Mag lay shivering with /
The minutes passed, and /
as there came no signs more alarming, he /
dozed gently, but was reused by an ex-
clamation from his sister, who said:
'Oh, Tebl Somethin air a pUllin' off /
the kiver"
Teb stuck 2 pine splinter in the embers.
and as it blazed up advanced toward the
bed. Mag was on the side farthest from
the wall, and by the flaming light they
saw huge yellow paw thrust between a
wider chluk Of the logs, with its claws
buried in the ragged quilt. Though
alarmed at an unknown danger, a glimpse
of its exact nature nerved the youth He
looked about hastily for a weapon. The
family spinning wheel still stood where
the mother. only the day before. had
''spun the fillin'n OF some jeans she in
tended TO weave.
Hardly knowing what he did, Teb
pulled out the long head post with its
transverse spindle attached, and raising
It, brought it down with all his strength.
The sharp, steel point pierced through the
creatures leg and into the log beneath.
With smart OF rage and pain it strove TO
withdraw its foot, but the upper log,
catching the head post, prevented it.
Teb saw his opportunity. and, selling a
hammer that lay in a crack, he drove. |
with frantic strokes, the spindle deep
Town into the log, while at every blew the
)east without growled and whined alter
lately. Mag, with clasped hands, shud-
eringly watched her brother. until she |
lw that the brute could not release itself,
hen she burst into tears, exclaiming:
How kin we'uns sleep, Teb, nd that
lar leg a stickin' throo nd hit hilt 10 the
liver, too"
But she did sleep nevertheless, notwith-
.anding the dolorous whines and inter-
Intent growls that kept Teb wide awake
and keenly alive TO the peculiar