St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-04-02

that We prevailed upop Billy 70 q
with us to the place where the cree
ture had sprsng upon him from tn
tree He consented at last very 70
luctantly, and came edging after NJ
/ I'VE shall be likely to find the ami
mails tracks, IL there has really been
anything of. the sort about here" re
marked Uncle Wash.
And we did find rather larger ones
than we had been looking for! Neal
the tree which Billy indicated as ''the
one" heavy trail began, leading of
into the forest Tho snow was very
deep and soft, and the beast had gone
OF with easy bounds, striking it, feet
altogether. and making huge plunGea
some ten or twelve feet apart
"Whew! Must have been quite q
cat!' cried Uncle Wash. Guess we
will follow this . little ways Looks
like big game"
On our snowshoe< We didn't mind
the depth. the main thing being "a
keep out of the brush. But, after fol.
lowing for.forty or City rods. we came
to where the trail was crossed BY q
much more recent one.
Gone along here some time to-day.
should judge" said Murch- MAY
overhaul him BY following thia He
wouldn't run far 1t one heap Shows
too deep"
Looking to the priming of our guns,
we struck Oh upon the new track. and
had gone twenty rods, perhaps, when
the trail suddenly stopped beyond Z
certain point where the last heavy
plunge had been made into the snow,
there were no more tracks!
Here was . strange terminus, Ger.
tainly; and we halted in considerable
surprise
''Belike he's shaking under the
snowr' cried Billy, coming up. can
he'll be lapinR out on us!'
And we were laughing st Billy's by.
pothesis when . strange cry-s wild,
shrill scream -rxng out. seemingly
over our heads! Our eyes followed the
sound. and there, on the limb Of .
great yellow birch, up full thirty feet
from the snow. crouched large. light
gray animal. with its ears laid back
and its long tail beating time on the limb
behind. ready to spring down. A fellow
can't turn round very quick on snow
shoes; but l assure you I wasn't long
performing that evolution. As hadn't
been intrusted with either of the guns.
I felt anxious to put the fighting men
in the rear. Billy was already ahead
of me. And just then there came an
other screech. Both guns were fred;
and. glancing over my shoulder, I saw
the catamount bound from tho limb.
and heard . heavy thud down into the
snow.
I'VE haven't hit him: He's coming!"
yelled Murch. No time for rcloading
guns
Run! for heavens sake rum.
shouted Uncle Wash. putting mp be.
hind.
And we did run. A man can run on
snowshoes-after fashion-and pretty
tolerably fast At . pinch. But the
depth and softness of the snow alone
prevented N from being overtaken.
Screech after Screech followed us q
we Topped along. but 1t every bound
the creature went in even with its
back. On we went for dear life, and
were not many minutes getting over
the seventy-five or eighty rods between
us and the camp The men had heard
the guns. and were out around the
door. but seeing us coming they all
dove in again. and we rushed in sfter
them full tilt, with the catamount not
hastily slammed to. and held.
"Now load-quick.' cried Murch.
Peeping out between the logs could
see the panther before the camp LASH
ing itself and glaring about Rearing
up against . tree standing near. it be-
gan sharpening its claws. making the
bark ny in . very suggestive manner.
Fix him this time" muttered Uncle
Wash. polxing the muxzlc Of the ride
out between the logs.
''All ready" exclaimed Murch, who
had thrust out his gun over the door.
They fred together. With the re-
ports the creature sprang mp with
savage growl. and. ~ If intending to
get into the tree. leaped upward upon
failing back into the snow, turned and
away.
after him. shouted Murch, pulling
open the door and rushing out AFTER
him with your axes!'
We ran ont There was blood where
he creature had stood and the trail he
was making was marked with great red
,f
The whole gang now turned ont
lfter rs to hunt him down; but the
ighting part was over. At . distance
# quarter of mile we came mp with \
he old fellow lying painting and ex-
,austed in the snow. Another shot
With few knocks from IN Ak, did the
oh, and It was amusing to see how
,rave the whole gang became in the
,ourse Of . few minutes. IN. Y. Ad-
'ertiscr.
How the Ice Was 3soAen.
Both sat on . garden seat and the