Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-05

never himself visited. It was situated,
he had been told, about a mile farther
along the swamp lands, from which q
number of saline springs ooze up.
He went to the north side of the bog,
keeping within the borders of a long
copse of laurel which covered the hill
on that side. The little hickory belt,
between the laurel and the swamp
alders, offered clearer walking, and as
the wind was southerly he hoped to
approach unperceived by any game
which might be about the click
He had gone halfway, as he supposed,
when, having stepped behind a fir bush
for moment in order to reconnoiter
cautious line of advance, his ears caught
the sound of light rustic in the edge
of the alders few rods away. He had
barely time to turn his head when he
saw a full-sized buck, with antlers
thrown back, coming directly toward
him from the direction of the lick. 1t
was beautiful mark, with it's dusky
white chest, mauve shoulders, black
ringed nostrils and bullying, glistening
eyes.
With suppressed excitement Tom
raised his gun, cooking it as he did SO.
But the bush behind which he stood
only partly concealed him. The buck
saw the motion and started aside, two
bounds, then having had only an i'm
perfect glance at its dangerous enemy,
it stopped and blew
Tom, who had been on the point of
shooting at it on the run, now fired with
rather more careful aim. The buck
bounded off the ground, fell, sprang up
and dashed away with four or five con-
vulsive leaps. when, coming in violent
collision with chestnut butt, it fell
again and lay kicking wildly.
Tom rushed forward with an involun-
tary shout of citation. He saw at once
that the ball had passed through the
bucks body.
''Good shot," said he, and admiringly
patted the stock of his old rifle.
The deer was plainly at its last gasp.
Tom knew that the shot must have
frightened all other game within hear
ing, and accordingly made the mistake
which many another hunter has made of
not relOading his piece. He set the rifle
down, drew his knife and proceeded to
kill the deer and to consider how he
could best dress it.
First he cut a ''gambrel' stick, and
then with cord which he had brought
along in the pocket of his frock set at
work with considerable exertion for the
deer was fat and heavy, to draw it up to
the limb of hickory preparatory to
skinning and drawing. His plan was to
take home one hind quarter wrapped up
in the hide, and come back next day
with his father for the rest of the meat.
Tom was not a skillful butcher, and
made clumsy and slow job of it. After
half an hour of hard work he was not
nearly through with his unpleasant task
Suddenly he heard behind him, not far
off, curious, fitful beating on the dry
leaves and ground. Engrossed as he was,
and quite unmindful of danger, he threw
a careless glance over his shoulder.
Careless, but for one moment only!
For his eye fell on a spectacle fit to ap-
pal even veteran hunter. Not over
fifteen feet away there crouched pan
ther of the largest size, its ears set back
and its fiery eyes, like glittering metallic
balls, fixed upon him, it's claws working in
the earth, and it's long tail switching nerv-
ously from side to side. A few steps be-
hind it another panther, also of huge
proportions, in half-sitting posture
snutfed and gloated over the rich repast
whose odor was waited to it's nostrils
And there lay Toms unloaded rifle
twelve or fifteen feet away, between him
and them!
Obeying his first impulse he ran for
life into the alders, and so onward
through the swamp, his reeking knife
still in his hand, nor did he once pause
till he had reached the ledgy hillside
beyond it. Here pausing for moment,
half expecting to see the ferocious
creatures close upon him, he plainly
heard loud growls from across the bog
whence he had fled.
The panthers were feasting, quarrel
ing, very likely, over the dainty ban
quet with which Tom had involuntarily
provided them, and after the first
paroxysm of his fear had passed the
young hunter felt not a little chagrined
at his loss and the sorry story he would
have to tell his father and grandfather.
He remained there listening for a
long time. Occasionally the growing
was renewed. then after awhile it
ceased. Still Tom sat on the ledge lis
tening, waxing more impatient and
angry about his deer every minute.
At last, hearing nothing more of the
growing, he concluded that the pam
theirs had eaten their fill and gone away.
If he could recover his gun and carry
home the bucks antlers in evidence of
his rather improbable story, even that
would be better than going back empty
handed. So. after waiting a long while.
he stole back across the swamp and
through the alders, listening after every
step as he drew near the place.
Coming at last in sight of the spot, he
saw nothing of the panthers. They had
pulled down the carcass, and apparently
eaten all of it, except the bones, which
he could see, together with the antlers,
lying near.
He crept along and after some time
drew near on tiptoe. Feeling pretty sure
now that the marauders had gone, with
last look all around he stepped for
ward and picked up the skull and horns.
just then, quick as flash of light,
both panthers alighted on the ground,
one on each side of him.
They had been lying crouched low be-
hind a log, among some sedges only
few yards away, and no doubt had been
watching every step of his approach.
The boy uttered an involuntary shrek,
and clutched his knife; but the panthers,
instead of springing upon him, merely