The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-09-07

no doubt, intended to be playful, and
was Just about to stop one Of them with
q shot from my rife. when in the same
breath each Of them caught scent OF
the elk's carcass, and came to sudden
halt.
"They stood for a moment with |
heads erect, ears pricked forward, and
tails switching eagerly, their yellow
eyes cleaning and scintillating, the
white spots on their breasts offering a
splendid target If 1 had cared to shoot
at once. They were fine, sleek animals
with glossy coats, far more imposing
in looks, and much larger than the
panther of the East and South. and l
was anxious to bag both of them, which
thought might make sure OF doing
if they attacked my bait, as might
easily bore them both with a single
shot from my Winchester If they got in
range.
They hesitated but an instant. few
seconds rather, then leaped the chan
mel of the stream with catlike jumps,
and approached the elk which they
cautiously shifted with pointed noses.
1 rejoiced at the prospect of securing
two such magnificent cats.
lone of them. the larger and male,
came up TO the..bait first, snuffed 1t over.
licked the fresh blood about the neck,
then with a sudden proprietary air he
mounted the carcass with his forefeet,
gave satisfied purr, that sounded like
the muffled drumming of partridge's
wings. and switching his tail about
with swapping motion at the end.
just as a cat with fresh-caught mouse
in her paws might have done.
The female took her turn at licking
the bloody neck. and snarled her cat
pleasure at the prospect of a gratuitous
feast. They did not seem to be in the
least hungry for they made no moveSo-
ward devouring, but after snuffing and
examining the game for bit. they sat
about scratching leaves and dirt over
it, with the evident intention of pre-
serving or hiding it for future use.
Thinking my time had now come,
shifted my position carefully. and
brought my gun to bear upon them,
waiting only for an opportunity to
make one bullet kill or cripple them
both, as feared that the unhurt one
would get out of sight before l could
; get fair shot at it.
Suddenly. the big one threw him
self upon the elk with q harsh snarl
his hair raising on end. his ears laid
back, and his tail twitching viciously
as he lay at full length. his head turned
away from me. evidently watching
2 some object down the canyon. Tht
l female too advanced nearly beside him
; her hair sticking out like bristles
and her angry snarling was deeper and
more threatening than his.
"At first could see nothing of thu
intruder against which this fierce
threatening was launched, but NOR
= than suspected its nature, and m.
!. excitement rose. Either another lioI
or bear was approaching, felt Ger
: tain, and so it proved; it was grizzly
, and one of the largest l had eve
seen!
"He reared himself suddenly out Q
the bed of the little stream, only fey
yards from the lions, and the elk. H
had been travelling up the bed OF tn
: creek-as bears often do in q shallo'
!. stream and attracted by the snarl
" of the lions who had heard him CON
= ing had emerged to see what the fus
was about.
: ITO my delight he took in the stir
= alton at glance, and without mir
= ute's hesitation he shambled towar
!. the belligerent cats, mingling b
!. hoarse growls with their savage snar
- ings.
~ II had heard that the mountain lilo
y would not run from grizzly, but di
a. not believe it, and despite the fearf'
=. threatening of the two before me,
expected to see them give way as tt
NJ monstrous bear came up. Imagir
~ my establishment when as the grizz
"a charged within leaping distance. Dol
Il of the panthers sprang upon him i
M stantly.
:. Il could not properly describe Il
% scene which followed; both brut
.. bounced upon the grizzly tooth al
ev nail, and closed with him in such
.. fury of savage outcries as made n
M hair rise, and my whole body prick
al, with intense excitement
nd 1.-THE grizzly reared as the two al
mails struck him; as he came up into
20 sitting position upon his launches
a shook the female lion from his sho,
! der. But the male lion held him
the throat his taWnv BODY Law alO