The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-09-15

CIOCk suSpeCteu, iIOm tuo InONc.
ments in the tunnel, that the one had
encountered had hunted up her mate
and brought him to the front Such
soon proved to be the fact, But as only
one could enter the place at time, it
was no advantage to them. They took
turns Juggling at the carcass of the bear
and the new conner would have dragged
it out in short order but for my inter.
ference. There was a space of about
six inches between the body and the
roof OF the tunnel, and, though the
fumes of the powder almost choked me,
l showed my revolver along until close
to the panther and then put two bullets
into him; he let go his hold and backed
out, and the way he did rave up and
down that ravine made my hear stand.
/ had wounded both and neither of
them ventured into the place again.
For about an hour heard them growl.
ing and snarling outside, and every
click of their claws on the rocks was
plainly audible but by and by they gave
it up as bad job and went away.
1t was now close on to o'clock, and
l went at the carcass with the determi-
nation to push it before me. 1t was too
late; the limbs had stiffened like sticks,
and the feet caught at every inequality
and resisted my efforts. There was,
man of 80, giant in strength, born
hunter and Indian fighter, penned up
like rat and just as helpless 1t came
to me, even with all that meat before
me, that l was doomed to die Of hunger,
and it was only as the sun had almost
been lost sight of outside that common
sense returned to my aid. The way to
rid myself of that carcass was to cut it
up. 1t ought to have occurred to me at
the very outset, but the race and close
pursuit had upset me- / had stout
hunting knife, and / had just begun
work on the bear when / heard the
voices Of Indians outside. also heard
them inside, fer one of the fellows crept
into the tunnel few feet, and shouted in
his own language to his friends outside:
1T smells very strong of bear in here,
but the beast doesn't seem to be at
home"
He backed out after flinging several
missiles at the rear of the cave, and
from the voices and movements 1 was
satisfied it was hunting party number
ing eighteen persons. They sat down !
right there for the night and built
camp fire, which reflected right into the 1
mouth of the tunnel, and kept their
chatter a-going until nearly midnight.
They had three or four dogs with them.
and the miserable ours took turns a.
sticking their heads into the opening
and trying to raise an alarm. One Of
the Indians encouraged his dogs to enter
and the animal came almost to the dead
bear, and raised such fuss that had the
red men been the least suspicious they
would have Investigated. did not get
a wink of sleep that long night, and
was thankful man to hear the Indians
move off in the morning about sunrise
They had no sooner departed
than l fell to work upon the
bear, and in the course of half an
hour had cut him up so that 1 could
squeeze out. As the Indians had gone
down the ravine from the mountain, I
expected they would discover my camp
aud lie in ambush for me. There was
also likelihood that the wild beasts
had killed both mules during the night.
Luck was with me, however. The
Indians crossed the valley too high up
to discover my camp, aud found the
mules safe and sound. That afternoon.
as | was looking after some traps set o.
a creek about a mile from camp. I
found panther dead in thicker. He
was an enormous fellow and had two
bullet wounds, and 1t did not need !.
much cogitating to convince me that he
was the male of the pair which sought
to get at me in the cave. One of the
bullets had gone square into his head,
and almost any other animal would
have died at once, but he had not only
survived it for two or three hours, bu.
had travelled long five miles from
cave New York Sun.