The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-08-27

He had recognized the formidable anil
NAL known as the cougar, the American
lion, though in reality it is more like
panther than lion. But even in the
midst of his panic he could not help re-
calling ridiculous story wont to be told
by boasting friend of his of how he had
once met one on the Cumbres, near Boca
del Monte, with no weapon but an UNI
brella in his hand; he had thrust the UNI
brella down it's throat, and, thanks to
this distraction got off unframed. For
his own part, he had never got nearer
one than very long range, though he had
often tried to do so, nor had he seen any
other wild adversary since coming to the
valley more dangerous than an occasional
red wolf prowling at a distance.
His stealthy, unconscious approach, so
different from either fear Or hostility,
had perhaps puzzled the animal; it may
have regarded him with an element of
curiosity. It stood with one paw raised
to strike; it's greenish optics gave out
that CLINT Of elusive expression that is
the essence Of untamable savagery, and
the lips of it's whiskered visage were
drawn back from its savage jaws.
Walter, by nature quick in action, had
his rife already in position and finger
placed on the trigger. But to fire would
be to betray his whereabouts to the
stranger and his secret to the world; bet
ter any risk than that he must not shoot
till it was imperatively the last resort.
With the other hand he slowly drew his
sharp nlachete from his belt. The same
absence of shock that had kept the ami
NAL quiet thus far awaited him in this,
but when the shining blade was fairly
out it seemed to act as q challenge.
Walter felt the bound as of heavy
body made of whalebone and steel, felt
the violent collision as it impinged upon
his weapon, firmly set like bayonet to
receive a charge, felt the ground give
way beneath him with q cracking and
crunching sound, knew he was falling
and being buried, and finally came to
his senses IN tho bO5tOin OF Il deep pit on
bed Of snow.
What had happened? A thin roof crust
had broken through, and he was in one
of those cavities on the side of the sun
less north, overhung by the tallest of
the brooding cliffs, where the SHOWS of
some phenomenal season, or perhaps
even of some past geologic epoch, were
permanently hidden and preserved. The
city of Cata1lia, in Sicily, is thus sup
piled with ice preserved under the lava
floods of Etna.
He must have fallen some twenty feet
how was he to get out? Jared, bruis-
ed and benumbed as he was, there at first
seemed no way of scaling the rough
walls. There was danger, too, of his
sinking lower, and even being buried out
of sight in the soft snow. He tied one
end of his lasso to his rifle, then, nerved
by desperation, inserted his machete,
which had fallen with him, into crevice
Of the rock, stepped upon it for support
and laid hold of some opportune projec-
tions above. He repeated the process till,
little by little, he reached the top, and
then drew up his rife after him.
1t was work of no speedy accomplish
ment. The moon was shining over the
edge Of the Barranca when he emerged.
The wandering invader Of his realm, and
the ferocious animal, had alike disap-
peared. No trace remained of either. It
had all transpired III q flash, like some of
the absurd things he had seen in panto-
mines by the zarzuela companies at the
theatres.
The vividness Of the episode passed
away in time, as that of others had done,