The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-10-23


his competitors. The strife came to a
head when it became known that
silver-gray fox had been seen a mile or
two up the gully.
"Of course that set the whole trap
ping fraternity wild, and it seemed as
though they could neither eat nor sleep
until they had taken that silver gray; for
not only would the pelt bring a big
| price, but they were afraid John Tur-
key would capture the prize in spite of
them.
80 they set traps for him, and had
spies watch John Turkeys movements
and keep tab on his tracks. One of
these spies was lCwdown Indian
who would have sold his soul for Il drink
of rum. AS he was able to get more
drinks out of white folks than of the
Indians, he was usually found serving
as cats paw to the whites, who were
mean enough to use him. OF course
he was cordially hated by all the In
dams. Finding that the silver gray
was not to be caught in traps, the
white trappers put out their hounds,
and secured every runway for miles
around. Although they took plenty of
the common red foxes, they could not
get even u smell of the silver gray.
Meantime John Turkey attended
quietly to his traps, and kept his
hounds off the runs.
1.-The fellow was shy and sensitive,
and senscd the feeling that had bee n
worked up over the silver gray so
strongly that, to avoid meeting white
folks, he had put off going to town
for ammunition until he was nearly
destitute of that necessity.
AS he was about to start out one
morning to make the usual rounds of
his traps he noticed that his powder
horn was almost dry, and after sling
ing it over his shoulder he poured its
contents out into the palm of his hand
to make sure that he had enough for
emergencies on his morning trip, after
which he planned to go to the settle
ment. There was just enough for four
good charges
After visiting several traps and re-
lieving them of the mink, otter and
musllrats which they contained, Turkey
trudged silently on until he caught
sight of fine buck through the brush.
1t was at long range, but he fired. The
buck dropped his white flag a sure
sign that he was wounded, and sped
down the runway towards a swift-run-
ming creek, half mile away. Turkey
pressed on after the deer and caught a
glimpse of it as it lodged out of the
runway and took a course which flee
ing deer only took when they scented
hunters in waiting for them where the
runway crossed the creek. As he was
practically certain of the route which
the buck would take, and where he
would find it if the wound proved fatal,
Turkey decided to first visit his other
traps across the creek, and then look
after his wounded deer. He was espe-
cially anxious about one particular
trap, which he believed was planted at
the entrance to the den of the silver
gray.
There was always likely to be game
of some kind at the creek, and so the
breed, always cautious and silent
of step, approached the stream with
true Indian stealth
| AS lie ScdnDeu lDt DdIlhS LOT some
sign of life his heart gave a leap. Could
it be true that against the background
of the opposite bank he saw a small
silvery object gliding from bush to
bush toward the water? Yes; he could
not doubt his eyes. 1t was the silver
gray. Turkey secured good rest
against the body of tree and waited
for the fox to halt 1t soon did so,
with one foot lifted and ears perked
sharply forward, to catch the faintest
sound ere it should trust itself to drink.
Turkey took as deliberate aim as
his excitement would permit and fired
THE fox leaped high and then
limpcd away in the direction of Tur-
keys trap as fast as it's wounds would
let it.
1.-The hunter hastily reloaded his rifle
and pressed on. He had only one
charge more of powder in his horn
What if the lack of more would cost
him his game?
ale was swiftly striding down the
runway, thinking of nothing but the
silver-gray, and had almost reached a
huge old tree that overhung the creek
when strange kissing sound instantly
stopped him. lie knew what it was.
A hasty glance into the linn bs of the
tree showed him a panther just ready
to pcunce down upon him as it would
have done upon deer coming to water.
lie made a quick aim for the panther
breast and fired. The brute fell, shot
through the heart. 1t had become sec
ond nature for Turkey to always re-
load as soon as his gun was discharged,
50 he poured his charge of powder into
his rifle, rammed ball down after it
and fixed the printing, ready for an
other shot.
THE hunters instinct to look for the
mate of any dangerous animal which
he had killed caused him to glance
again into the tree. There was the fe-
male panther, crouching close to a
limb and slowly creeping to point
where she could spring upon him. Life
and death depended upon the accuracy
of his aim!
ITO miss fire or merely wound the
female panther would have been to fall
under the attack of the most ferocious
brute which a hunter can encounter