The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-09-16

~ dark color. with The crimson spots
almost AZ brilliant ~ sparks 81 ii,c.
My l"n: hni drifted. aided Nv IN
occasional movement of the paddle. in
"a . part ~ the creek where the alder
borders were at least tity feet apart.
This biz pool grew vrry narrow AZ il.
lower end. and hundred feet from is
head. and there the thick aldcrs inter-
locked their branches over and IN the
water, and the creek disappeared from
view as completely ns II II had been
swallowed up by the earth. On tho
right side Of this broad extent Of water
was one u the deer openings in tho
thickct. aud the soft dirt AZ the top OF
tho creek showed BY myriad tracks
that deer were frequent visitors there.
Just above that opening q hemlock tree
reared It's big stem, some OF the lower
branches on the upper side extending
several feet out over the water.
II had driftcd along beneath these
branches, aud twenty feet below the
tree. There ] stood up In my boat to
make y cast at the edge OF a bunch Of
alders, some Of whose limbs were
stretched out on the surface OF tho
water. As ! threw my rod forward my
hook stopped suddenly in the air be-
hind me, and my reel hummed at the
resistance. simultaneously with the
stopping Of the hook blood-curdling
scrcech rent the cir. ] turned quickly
about was just in time TO see big
wildcat leap from tho lower limb Of the
II x<>;..t..A s<xIe
for me, although there was watcry
space between us, and all woodmcn
have always held that an intervening
stretch Of water is . sure barrier
against the attacks Of all fierce ami
mails Of the cat kind. My hook had
caught somewhere in ; tender spot on
the wildcat which had been crouching
on the lower limb unknown 70 me. and
the pain of tho puncturc hnd walked
him instantly into uncomfortable fury.
II was standing near the bow of the
boat but moved quickly 70 the other
end, and none too quickly, for the wild
cat pounccd into the boat on the spot
where had stood before I'd had time
TO steady myself in my new position.
Then saw that the hook was fast in
one Of the animals ears, and eats
cars are the most sensitive part of its
body. The hook had gone clear through
the tender membrane and the blood
was triclsling down in quite stream.
Fortunately the paddle was in the stern
Of the boat As the big eat struck the
boat il almost upset the clumsy craft.
The enraged beast came for me again
without an instant's delay. met Il
with blow from tho paddle. The pad
die ncw into dozen pieces. The dis
turbancc in the boat was too much for
the boats equilibrium, and over il
went. tumbling the wildcat and me
into the water. We floundered there
close together, and instead Of the bath
cooling down the wildcats temper II
seemed to make 1t hotter, and the ugly
beast renewed the fight in the water
1.-THE boat, whom il upset, was with
in few feet Of the foot Of the pool.
where the water disappe ared behind
defend myself with against the wildcat
but my fists. and I pounded il with
them, with vcr,~ little effect except tc
their own damage. The wildcat could
swim like duck. kept its head well
out Of water. and struck and bit Mt me
with such quickness and agility thai
my sleeves were torn in strips In a very
short time, nnd the blood began to flow
from deep gashcs on my hands and
arms. saw that in the struggle my
hook had torn loose from the wildcats
ear. leaving long and bleeding slit,
The persistent animal kept mp nm un'
earthly yelling as il fought. We soor
worked our why down against the wal
| OF alders. and. as the struggle went on
for moment against it. ! heard
another screcch. and presently another
wildcat came tearing through the
thicket TO the cdgc Of the pool. As this
second ngly customer crouched rs II e
| leap upon me 10 the aid Of its mate, the
ahlcrs that barred the channel gave
why. and my cat and ! floundered
through the maze. Below il the creek
was ten feet wide between The alders,
which closed above il in regular can
opy Of Melted branches. nowhere more
than three feet high. 1t was almost a.
dark - night in that low-vaulted wat