The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-06-11

stopped short and, lifting his head.
looked all around in such suspicious
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. 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 q chance for q shot as
could have been desired. l was greatly
excited, but the rest over the top of the
log gave me a good chance, and was
confident that / could settle Mr. Bucks
account with this world the first shot
"And did. did not delay an i'm
slant. but the moment I got aim I
pulled trigger Crackl went my gun,
and the buck, giving vent to q 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.
MAY be you think wasn't ttckled at
the result of my shot. uttered
shout of delight, and, leaping to my
feet, ran to where the buck lay. He
was Just kicking his last when got
there. and l was SO taken up with
looking at the buck, and gloating over
| him, that never once thought of re-
loading my gun. NY whole mind was
taken up with the deer, and my only
thought was: How shall I get him
homer
1T 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 60 in the wagon after din
ner, apd get the deer.
This at once proceeded to do. l
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 flushed
and rose to my feet heard noise be-
hind me. Not thinking of danger, /
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 paralyzeL 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 a moment was flying through
the timber at q 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 a
fine dinner. suppose.
| Il ran till was tired out, and then
sank down on the ground and gasped
for breath. 1 was terribly put out-over
the affair. Here l had succeeded in
killing fine fat buck only to have him
eaten by q couple of mountain lions
BY rights should have been thankful
| for my escape, but, boy-like, did not
think of that then; I could think Of
nothing but my lost deer.
| II was In terrible stew; did not
know what to do. l could let the lions
have my deer-though hated to bad
enough-but I 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 1 ran, and it would have done
me no particular good at the time, as 1t
was not loaded If l had thought 70
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 1t now" and Jim smiled and ac-
cented the NOW" as he spoke.
"Im afraid you wouldn't have fig
ured 1t out that way thenw laughed his
wife.
"Well, not having the gum" con.
| tinued Jim. II 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 l was sure the lions had finished
eating my buck and departed, and then
return and get my gun. If l had time,
| r ;p<opdad IN frp for ucfhor door tc-
fore going home.
"Well, I 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
a bright lookout, you may be sure; but
seeing nothing of the lions as l ap-
preached the spot where 1 had felled
the deer. concluded that they had
filled themselves up, and then, being
fully satisfied, had returned to their
lair.