The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-04-03

OF some low swamp or tangled net of
underground, where the tracks of the
cat have been seen, the hunters cast
off the dogs at some point where a
long open place breaks out into the
heavy growth of cane or rushes, and
sit their horses while the pack rush
eagerly about
1t is only a chance if the Cat can be
run out from the cover at once. In all
probability it will run around and
around in continuous circles through
the swamp, crossing its own trail
often, and apparently not very much
concerned about the noisy pursuers
behind it. 1t may often come in full
sight of the horsemen sitting at the
openings of the swamp, and may even
pass within twenty feet of them with
hardly more than a surly turn of the
head toward them. | suppose he
would lash his sides with his tail if he
could but bob-cat isn't built that
way. He can't lash with his tail very
much; but a bolder. or, indeed, more
impudent animal it would be hard to
find, no matter what its size. AS the
cat thus prowls around or crosses from
one bit OF cover to another, it would
be an easy matter to shoot it, but no
hunter will do that. He will wait pa
tiently for the hounds, which present.
ly, with open mouths and heads breast
high, and tails that fairly curl for
ire, come streaming along in angry
haste on the trail. They will
work it out and gradually get
closer aud closer up to the cat. Per-
haps in some sudden turn they may
run across it in the cover. If this be
the case, there will be the wild and
unmistakable sounds of the baying-up
and of the combat, but probably this
will last but a moment, till the cat
breaks away and resumes its flight.
Alarmed now, and aware Of the i'm
portant qualities of its enemies, the
chase leaves the swamp and makes off
over the bottoms and into the nearest
timber The hounds press closely
after, fairly making the hills sing.
They pass out of sight, followed by
every hunter at his best speed. Pres
emily the recurrent and melodious COM
plant of the hounds changes into a
loud continuous roar of rage and
Iom oJ 1zrD
what has happened as we'll as if he
saw. The cat, following its instinct,
has made to the timber when too hard
pressed, and has run up into the near
est tree, where, safe above the dogs, it
is sitting on some limb, splitting, growl-
ing and kissing, or now and then lick
ing its moist paws or smoothing down
its rumpled coat, just as tabby does at
home.
AS the hunters approach the dogs
become absolutely furious and leap up
against the tree as far as they can in
their endeavor to get at their prey.
The latter spits at them little more,
but doesn't get very much excited. The
next question is how to get the cat
down. Here, again. it would be easy
to kill it, but this is not permitted. 1t
is allowable to shoot away the limb
under or above the cat, but not to shoot
the animal itself Alarmed by the
shots, or, perhaps, by stick thrown
at it, the cat backs down to the trunk
of the tree, descends, and with a long
sidelong spring, leaps out clear beyond
the clustering and raging dogs, and
makes off again through the woods.
1t may be freed several times before it
is brought to bay. At length, how
ever, it purposely turns to fight, or
else by some miscalculation jumps
down among the dogs. Then there is
rapid and sanguinary trouble. Every
body knows how strong the ordinary
house cat is and how vicious are its
teeth and claws. Multiply this cat by
about ten and you get a faint notion of
the wild cat. No creature fights more
desperately or more wickedly. Flat on
it's back, it seizes dogs head with its
teeth and fore claws, while with its
hind claws it fairly tears the flesh from
the bones, or perhaps nearly disem-
bowels its enemy. The young dogs
rush in and receive fearful punishment
before the older fighters have time to
plan the battle. Two or three draw
out, bloody and mangled. The whole
pack is aflame with anger, and the
tumult is astonishing. One moment
and the veteran of the pack finds his
opportunity. Needless of tooth and
claw, he rushes in and bears the cal
fast to the ground. crushing in its
chest between his fore legs, or JUS
back of them, with the grip of his pow.
erful jaws. He pins the cat to the
earth, and never raises his own heat
until his prey has ceased to struggle
In the meantime, the cat is almost tori
from him by the jaws of the other dogs
High aloft they hold the limp bod.
from the ground; and after it has beer
1 tied behind the hunters saddle, if a les
chance to fall down, or the body hap
: pen to move, two or three hounds, will
4 jealous growls, will spring at it.
The hide OF the Wild cat is light ant
thin, and is easily tanned. Stretcl
3 the skin nicely into shape, fur sid,
| down, and after patiently scraping OF
! the fat and fiber cover it with pounde,
salt and alum, three-fourths to one
fourth-the exact proportion doesn'