The record-union., 1891-02-01
A NIGHT OF TERROR.
Imprisoned in a Cellar by a Cana
dian Lynx.
A Thrilling Adventure With the Fferc-
est of the Wildcat Species in the
Canadian Woods.
by r. J. d.

loosen their hold from the parent stem
nd float slowly downward to the sward
,eneath, to form deep soft carpet of dry,
erackling leaves, mingled with those of
the beech and elm, experienced an adj
venture with one of those fierce denizens
OF the Canadian forest, lynx, that never
fails to cause me thrill of horror as 1 re-
call it.
1t was in the Province of Ontario, in
one of the backwoods townships, at no
great distance from London, Ontario, that
l lived upon my fathers farm, where his
sturdy arm had literally hewn out a
house for his family in the forest. In
pred to the hardships of pioneer days in
that region, accustomed to the severity of
the intense cold of Canadian winters, /
was about as hardy and strong boy of
! ten years as could well be found. /
skated up the river to and from school in
the winter dragging my little sister be-
hind me on a hand-sleigh, the distance
| being too great and the snow too deep
for her to walk, and she was not strong
enough to skate. In the summer / took
an active part in the hard work of the
farm; hence, no doubt, my robust consti-
| tuition at that time.
One evening. at the time of which I
| SptitN, l. Idu DGcn StllU TO Il nclgnDOflnG
farm on some trifling GRAND, and hav-
ing accomplished it, instead of at once
! departing for home, which was some
three miles distant, loitered about with
the farmers boys playing and eating APP
| pies, fruit which our young orchard
did not yet boast. 1t grew towards dark,
and / announced with a start of recollec-
ton, that must so home. The old
| farmer, hearing me, and noticing that it
was almost dark, pressed me to remain
over night with them, warning me how
dangerous it was to be out after dark at
| that time, for
THE DREADED LYNX
| Were numerous, several having been
killed in the vicinity but a few days be-
fore. But certain fear of my fathers
anger if / should remain away all night,
and on Saturday night, too, quickened
my determination to at once hasten
homeward. So, after many protests from
the kindly people, / started off, and
trotted quietly along the dusty road in
my bare feet, for the children to wear
shoes in summer, unless on state occa-
sions, was regarded as the hight of ex-
| travagance.
/ had made about half the distance. and
was just emerging from a spots on the
road which was bordered on both sides
with thick forest, the only part of the
way of which [ was really afraid, when 4
/
my head, and just behind me, sent all the
| blood from my face, and almost made my
hair stand straight up. Well, 1 knew
what that dread sound meant. 1t was a
| lynX-the most ferocious Of the cat tribe.
Like the panther or cougar, they lie in
wait upon the branches of trees, ready to
| drop upon their prey as 1t passes beneath.
| AS i heard the branches crack L leaped
| forward and ran as though my life de-
pended upon (which it assuredly did.
A moment later and dull thud warned
me that the beast had dropped to the
road. 1 glanced hastily and fearfully
backward. l was not wrong in my sur
mise. There, fifty yards behind me,
came tearing along an immense lynx, as
| large as an ordinary dog. His eyes shone
like fire in the semi-darkness. In mo-
ment he would be upon me, and in a sec
ond pictured him
TEARING MY FLESH FROM MY BONES
With his sharp-pointed teeth. glanced
about me. 1 had passed the woods, and
on one side of me was large plowed
| field, and but a few yards from the fence
was an old log barn which l knew con-
tanned cellar. AS the cat was almost
upon me 1 leaped the fence with the
agility acquired by much practice, and a
moment later was running along a fur
row to the barn. Over the fence after me
| came the cat, but with less knowledge of
agriculture than I possessed, he under
took to head me off by crossing tho
plowed ground instead of following in
the furrow. In consequence of which
fortunate lack of knowledge on his part,
/ gained invaluable time for he sank to
his knees in the soft ground at every
bound.
1 reached the barn safely, and casting a
quick glance behind, saw his catship;
| fioundering along towards me, utterings
growls that sounded wonderfully like inn
precautions. / could almost have laughed
| But wasn't safe yet, by any means. L
felt about hastily in the dark for the trap
door which l knew led down some four
or five feet to the cellar, which in winter
was used for storing roots, etc. / had
just found the ring and raised the door,
when with triumphant growl and u
bound the lynx landed inside the door
Without minutes hesitation jumped
down upon the steps, for the cat was;
crouched to spring, and as the door fell
heavily down upon me, he landed square
upon it. He had calculated the distance
unerringly, and had / waited to bet how
close he would come to me, l should
never have related the occurrence.
With howl of baffied rage he tore
frantically at the closed trap-door, and
had l not held with all my strength to IA
rope fastened to the under-side of the
door, he would certainly have got it open,
and enjoyed a
FEAST IN THE CELLAR
At his leisure. But he couldn't bulge it,
! and with a low growl that froze my blood
he lay down to wait, as a cat does in
watching for a mouse. For an hour [
stood beneath listening to his labored
breathing, when became conscious that
all was still, and l could no longer hear
the animals respirations. Slowly hope
formed in my heart that he had grown
weary of hope deferred, and that might
| not have to remain cooped up there all
night-a something I did not greatly rel
old shotgun, which, Notwithstanding it's
weight, / was expert in handling.
| AS the awakened hope grew into GER
! tainty l could stand it no longer, and
slowly, cautiously, quietly, began to
gently raise the door. Still not sound.
Yet little more; still quiet. With ia
creasing confidence, 1 raised it still more,
when-my God! A hot wave of breath
flashed in my face-oh, horrible sensa-
ton! An unearthly growl of delight, and
a 1.-the paw shot rapidly in the crack,
which was opened about four or five
! inches.
THE SHARP CLAWS
Caught me on the shoulder, but while
only grazing the skin, were firmly inn
! bedded in my heavy homespun coat.
| With sudden inspiration l pulled the
| heavy door down again upon the ami
mails leg and put my whole strength
upon the rope. What howls. snarls,
roars and pitiful whines that creature d id
| let out of him! His claws were entangled
deeply in my stout coat, which circuln-
| stance assisted me greatly in keeping
him prisoner. The tables were turned.
| Our positions were reversed. How / eX-
ulted in the thought. But had an ele-
plant on my hands. While he could not
get away from me, neither could I get
4 HI.