St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-07-23

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HE STRUCK AT Tue OBJECT.
sound or sign Of the cows did he d.
cover.
This state Of things compelled bin "a
give mp the search and II possible.make
his way home. HUT here was tke pus-
sle. by daylight he would have Known
whittier 10 60. but il was another thing
In the night lie knew he was some
where to tho southwest Of the tmper-
feet road that led - his home; ii.sthere-
fore, he could 60 toward the northeast
he would strike that road after = time
and finally reach his home. But which
way was north. south, east or west?
No star was TO DO seen. no landmark
existed 70 direct hin. That sense OF
feeling in regard 10 Points Of compass.
possessed BY most persons, was OF no
use now. Standing perfectly atili he
listened for any sound that might guide
HIM. Somewhere In the distapcc n
owl was calling: "IIoo. hod, hoo,
hoorah:" . night bird Of some KIDD was
pouring plaintive song on the air; now
and then . rustic among the, leavea
reached his ears; but there was tothing
BY which 70 locate himself and, take .
correct start homcward.
Lads not familiar with th4 great
woods would not have known ! single
thing to do in such an emergency. But
Charley understood some things not
taught in tho grammar school. The
necessities Of frontier life iWpart IN
education peculiar 10 itself
He made his way 70 . tree AID. feel
ing with his hands on all side. Of its
rough trunk. soon decided with way
was north. for the north side OF forest
trees Is almost always slightly NOISY
and the bark not % hard and dry. but
moro easily crumbled. This Is the re-
suit Of shade on the north and Sunshine
on the south side. Carefully ssti.fying
himself on this point, he pl>eed his
back against the northeast aide and,
putting forth his hands to SHIELD his
face from brush, Get forward In what
he deemed the right direction, Slowly
walking . few rods, he felt thc bark
upon smother tree 70 correct lis bear
in9s. In this way . person WHO under.
stands it can 60 . long distances; through
the forests BY night in IN, almost
straight line. OF course. IN dense
woods ono cannot steer by the stars.
On and on Charley groped, occasional
" bumping against . tree Or etumbling
over . log, but steadily holding his
eo %fter .xh,,. -. .v.. .x,;m,n,nr /.
tree to keep himself right, he heard
Q vigorous ruatling Of brush not far
away, and listening intentlys his ears
were saluted by . distinct e.nin from
some animal.
At first Charley was incliried 70 be
alarmed, but reasoning thst il was
probably some small creature, raccoon
or opossum, hs kept on his .vay. But
within . few rods he heard itiagain and
louder. Harkening, he clearly distin-
guished its steps very near hin. Yet it
would not do to weaken and play the
coward In such circumstances, and 60.
feeling about and cuttin:: . stout
cudgel, and carrying Il in one hand and
his open jackknife in the :other, he
plodded along - nearly q Possible in
. direct course.
BY and BY, - he was ags;n correct
Ing his bearings BY tree, hesfelt some
thing touch his leg, like the lose OF an
animal smelling him to see e he would
be good eating. and il % stsrtled him
that he gave . piercing yell and struck
1t the object With al his might What
ever il was. il received . prodigious
whack and bounded away = few feet,
uttering . low. heavy growl. This
showed Charley that II wes . large
creature. but IL did not exHiain to him
what it was.
On he pushed again, he:animal ap-
parently keeping . little farther on.
but shifting frequently and growing
in . threatening manner. Ip the pres
ence OF such . mysterious. peril most
persons would have been Scompletely
unuerved, but our young heio managed
70 keep his wits about him and hold .
steady course.
Finally, - he was Rroptng along.
there came 20 his ears from come dis
taut point faint but welcome sound
the tinkle. tinkle Of the cow-bell
Listening IN instant he decided the d.
rection. and turning sharply that way.
steered BY the sound. waking much
faster than when trying 70 keep . Ger
tain point Of compass by the trees-
This brought his pursuer It his back. .
more nervous position than any other.
Within few minutes the bell seemed
quite near, and the noises from the
animal were less distinct. proving that
it was rather liseoneerted By the tiak-
ling.
When within few rods of the bell
COW. the boy eommeneed calling and
talking TO her In his usual femilisr way.
But be discovered st once ~ the snort
ing and trampling Of the cattle. half .
dozen in number, that the Wild creature
was not far away. and. whatsoever IL
might -, was formidable enough to
frighten the whole herd FEELING along.
he made his way to the side Of the bell
cow, . large, sturdy animsl. that Char
ley knew would stand the best chance
Of any In the flock Of escaping from
danger. Hardly had he reached her and
pstted her sides. when they all became
worse alarmed and began tearing around
In the darkness In the widest manner.
Charley thought the best. thing would
b Y stsst them fef hosas. BELIEVING