Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-15


"Tho traps were unusually success
ful that trip, and at last had 10 stop
and mako a cache OF my spoils. This
unusual delay seemed 20 mislead my
willy pursuer, who suddenly came out
Of a thicket while was hidden behind
n tree trunk. As he orept stcaltlily
along on my tracks, not fifty yard,
away, was disguised at his sleuth
hound persistence and crafty malignity.
raised my gun TO my shoulder. aud in
another moment would have ri1 myself
Of his undeslred attractions. but tho
animal must have caught IA glcnm from
tho shining barrel, for he turned like
ilasl, and buried himself in the nearest
thicket
at was evident that he did not wish
the matter forced to an immediate Is.
sue. As a consequence, decided that
II ought TO be settled at once. ran
toward tho thicl,ct, but at the Same
time the panther stole out ON the other
side and disappeared in the woods.
Upon this concluded that he had
become scared and given up his unhal-
lowed purpose. For some hours ! do
missed him from my mind and tended
my traps without further npprchen.
sion, but about tho middle Of the after.
noon or n littlo later, when ! had
reached the farthcst point of my cir.
cult, once more became Impressed
with a sense that was being followed
"The impression grew 30 strong that
II weighed upon me, and determined
TO bring II TO test. Taking some
luncheon from my pocket | sat down be-
hind tree 20 nibblc and wait. sup.
pose must have sat there ten minutct,
hearing nothing, seeing nothing, 80
that was about 10 give Il up and con.
tinuc my tramp, when along came tho
panthcrl Mygun was leyeled instant.
ly, but at the same instant the bruto
had disappeared. Ills eyes were sharper
than mine. AIR said to myself, Il
will have TO keep u big Ere going to.
night or this follow will pay me n call
when am snoozing'
"About shutdown I met with an un
lucky accident, which dampcned both
my spirits and my powder. In crossing
n swift brook at a place where the leo
was hardly thick enough TO hold up its
covering OF snow, broke through and
was soaked. After fishing myself out
with some difficulty found my gun
was full Of water, which had frozen NJ
1t entered. Hero was a pretty In.
The weapon was for tho present ut.
torly useless feared that most Of
my cartridges were la like condition.
Tho prospect for the night, when tho
Indian devil should arrive upon tho
scene, WIS not a cheerful one, lpushcd
ON miscrably for another mile or 80,
and then prepared To camp,
First Of an | built such fro ns
thought would impress upon tho In
dim devil due sense Of my impor
lance aud my mysterious powers. AZ d
safe distance from the fire spread out
my cartridges TO dry, Ia the ferycni
hope that the water hadnot penetrated
| far enough TO render them useless. 81,
gun / put where It would thaw a
quickly as possible.
"Thcn | cut enough ilrewood I,
blaze nll night. With my snowshoes
dug a deep hollow at one sido Of III,
fire. The ilrn soon melted the snow
beneath Il, and brought 1t down TO Ia,
level whcrcon whs'to place my couch
may ray that the ground had 70
lectod was a gentle flopo, and the irt
was below my bed 20 that tho melting
snow could run oil freely. ovorny hoaS
Fixed good, firm lcan.to' Of spruce
saplingi. thicl,ly thatchod with boughr
Thus | secured myself In such wa.
that the Indian devil could come at M
only from the side on which the iir
was burning. Such approach, con
graduated myself, would be little q
his catship's taste.
by the time my shelter was com
plcted Il was fully night In tho woods
My Ere made n ruddy circle about ia
camp, and presently | disccrnod th
panther, gliding In and out among tn
tree trunks on the outer edges of th
circles. lilo stared at me with hi
round, green eyes, and l returned III
gaze with cold Indifference. was bus
putting my gun In order would no
encourage him lost he might grow 10
familiar before | was ready for his ,,
eoption.
between my cleaning walls OF sno'
] had worked up temperature tina
was fairly tropical. Away up oyc
head, among tho pine tops, a few larg
stars glinrnerod lonesomely. How "a
away seemed the world OF my friend
on whom these same stars were lookin
down. wonder how those at HON
would feel II they could SEQ me ther
by tho solitary camp fire, watched n
lcntlessly by that prowling and yindi'
tive beast.
presently, finding that | made n
attack upon him, the brute slippe
noiselossly to within few dozen pac,
, OF the fire There he crouched down |
the snow and glared upon me. hurle
a flaming brand at him, and ho spran
backward. snarllng into the gloou
But the brand spluttered In the sno
and went out, whereupon tho brui
returned TO his post Then tire
another at him, but he regarded II Ia
tip,e with rontempt. merely DRAWN