Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-05-01
Mechsncytovn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday, May 1890

ton than the DlaZeQ trees.
The doctor rode on in no very genial
mood, and reached the mills Just as the
family there were closing up for the
night. They gave him cup Of hot
coffee and Il pocket lantern. for, as old
Mr.. Larned remarked:
"He might have to look at the trees
to find his way, and 1t would take a
right smart pair Of eyes to tell whether
tree was blazed or not such a dark
nlght.'
A couple of miles we're safely passed
even after leaving the mills, and the
doctor was congratulating himself on
the fact, for wild beasts were numerous
in the forest-bears, wolves, and that
great terror of American forests, the
cAtamount. He was now within three
miles of Windy Gulch, and when the
next half mile was over the dreariest
part of the way would have been
traversed.
Suddenly Llghtfoot stopped, qu;ver-
ing IN every limb, and, with his slender
ears pricked forward until they almost
met and his nostrils dilated with fear,
he stood like rock, and no persuasion
of his master could induce him to left a
hoof.
Surprised and vexed at this extraor.
dinary conduct on the part Of his hith-
erto tractable beast, DR.. Newell appli-
ed whip and spur, but to no purpose
Lightfoot had evidently made up his
equinine mind and was not disposed to
change it.
At last, finding his exertions to in
duce the horse to 90 Of no avail, the
doctor dlsmountcd and took few steps
forward. But he was brought to sud.
den halt by the vision Of two balls of
fire, not half a dozen PAGES from him.
set darkly in the background of a low
branching evergreen. He knew in a
moment what was before him. The
balls of fire were the eyes of cata-
mount, and the animal was lying on
the branch of the tree getting itself
ready for spring. He could hear the
fierce tail beating the dry bark of the
tree-could almost feel the fetid breath
hot on the air.
TO attempt flight he knew would be
madness, for the catamount has been
known to jump thirty feet at II bound,
and before he could hope to reach and
mount his horse the brute would be up.
on him.
Even while the thought fitted thro
his mind the creature uttered SHARP
growl, and almost simultaneously the
doctor was crushed to the earth by its
pondenous weight. He felt sharp
stinging pain in his shoulder, and kne"
that the animals claws fastened there
There was no hope! The next mo-
ment probably would seal bis fate. He
had no weapon of any kind about him
He was helpless and hopeless, and ye'
it was so hard to die thus.
Suddenly there flashed across his
mind wild idea. In his breast pock
ct he had a bottle of chloroform which
he had taken along, thinking perhaps
it might be needed if old steve's cast
should prove as serious as represented
Quick as thought, with the arm which
was free to move, he drew forth thu
bottle, uncorked it and hurled the con
tents full in the face of the wild beast
For a second the sharp claws dug in
to his shoulder to the bone, and then
uttering a cry which was almost human
IN its distress, the beast relaxed his hole
rolled overe on the ground, and lay
there motionless.
With a great effort of the will, fo1
Dr.. Newell was in some degree affected
by the drug, lie managed to reach hi
horse and get into the saddle. An(
L,ghtfoot, as if realizing that the dan
ger was over, hurried off Of his own &C
cord at his best pace and soon carried
his master to the little knot Of wood
cutters huts which formed the settle
ment of Windy Gnlch.
And DR.. Newell, completely exhaust
ed and bleeding profusely from the
wound in his shoulder, fell senseless in
to the arms of the man who came out
to receive HIM.
Poor old Steve was dead and beyond
the need of surgical aid, and for time
it seemed that DR.. Newell was in a fall
way to follow him.
His injuries were very severe, anC
for many days lay in the hut of Pierre
Duval, taking little note of what pass
ed around him.
Louise nursed him-Louise, the ole
mans daughter-and of course you
have guessed that Louise was young and