The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-04-08

manner that l was afraid he would
take fright and run away, and was not
willing to risk his coming down into
the lick.
my gun was already cooked, and,
raising it very carefully, l rested it on
the top of the log, and took careful
aim. The buck was standing with his
left side turned partly toward me, and
had as fair chance for shot as
could have been desired. / was greatly
excited, but the rest over the top of the
log gave me a good chance, and l was
confident that could settle Mr.. Bucks
account with this world the first shot
"And did. did not delay an in
slant, but the moment / got aim l
pulled trigger. Crack! went my gun,
and the buck, giving vent to a sort of
snort or cry, leaped several feet in the
air. Coming down, he whirled and
gave two leaps in the opposite direc-
ton from me, and then fell to the
ground in his death struggles.
Maybe you think wasn't ticl1led at
the result of my shot. / uttered a
shout of delight, and, leapiug to my
was just kicking his last when | got
there, and | was so taken up with
| looking at the buck, and gloating over
him, that | never once thought of re-
loading my gun. My whole mind was
taken up with the deer and my only
thought was: How shall | get him
| home?'
! ut would be impossible for me to
get the bucks carcass home by myself,
and, after some study, l decided TO
skin the buck, cut generous slice of
meat, wrap it in the hide, and carry it
home for dinner, then father, and to-
gether could go in the wagon after din
| ner, and get the deer.
'This at once proceeded to do. !
was far from being an expert at this
kind of business, but managed after
about three hours hard work to get
the buck skinned. Just as l finished
and rose to my feet l heard noise be-
hind me. Not thinking of danger, l
turned my head and glanced back over
my shoulder. There right behind me,
and not more than ten feet distant,
were two mountain lions. The noun
tain lion is the largest of the panther
species, and by far the most ferocious
and powerful. Knowing this, for had
heard father speak of them often, was
almost paralyzed with fright, and stood
rooted to the spot with horror. Only
| for a moment, however; the instinct of
self-preservation is strong in all of us,
and in moment was flying through
the timber at rate of speed perfectly
wonderful. expecting at every leap to
| feel the terrible claws of one or both
of the lions.
LUCKILY they did not pursue me.
Evidently the carcass of my deer pre-
scented too great an attraction for them
just then, and they let me go as re-
ward for presenting them with such
fine dinner. | suppose.
81 ran till was tired out, and then
sank down on the ground and gasped
for breath. was terribly put out over
| the affair. Here ! had succeeded in
killing a fine fat buck only to have him
eaten by a couple of mountain lions
| BY rights l should have been thankful
for my escape, but boy-like, did not
|
nothing but my lost deer.
| ~ was IN O terrible stew; did not
know what to do. / could let the lions
have my deer-though l hated to bad
enough-but l could not return home
without my gun, which was at that
| very moment lying on the ground not
| five feet from where the two lions
were devouring my buck. had been
too frightened to think about securing
it when ran, and it would have done
me no particular good at the time, as it
was not loaded. If l had thought to
bring it, however. | could have loaded
it and returned and shot one or both of
the lions as they were busy eating my
deer. At any rate that is the way !
| figure it now" and Jim smiled and ac-
cented the NOW" as he spoke
I'm afraid you wouldn't have fig
ured it out that way thenv' laughed his
wife.
"Well, not having the gum" con.
tinued Jim. Il could net return with
the intention of shooting the lions, but
l made up my mind to return just the
same. l was bound not to go back
home without my gun; the folks would
never have gotten over laughing at me
if / had. / made up my mind to wait
till was sure the lions had finished
eating my buck and departed, and then
return and get my gun. If had time,
| intended to try for another deer be-
fore going home.
well, waited fully two hours, and
then, slowly and carefully, for didn't
know but might run on to the lions
made my way back to the scene of my
triumph and my discontinue. l kept
bright lookout, you may be sure; but
seeing nothing of the lions as | ap-
preached the spot where had felled
the deer, | concluded that they had
filed themselves up and then, being
fully satisfied, had returned to their
lair
thinking thus, | threw aside my
caution, and advancing, picked up my
gun and took a look at my buck. There
was nothing left but bones and, Just
as ! was on the point of turning
away, heard a noise behind me, and
turned, to see the two mountain lions
crouching on the ground within a yard