The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-04-08

Seen! An yc may well say that!
Seen i'm, as big as an OK, an hazard
i'm shriclS.
1t was no use talking with them
they We're in perfect fear. lrt led, it
was not without the greatest difficulty
that we prevailed upon Billy to go
with us TO the place where the crca-
ture had sprang upon him from the
tree lie consented at last. very re-
luctaptly, and came edging after us.
I'VE shall be likely to find the ami
mails tracks, if there has really been
anythin. of the sort about here" re-
marked Uncle Wash.
And we did find rather larger ones
than we had been looking for, Near
the tree which Billy indicated as the
one" a heavy trail began. lcadirr off
into the forest. The snow was very
deep and soft, and the beast h-d gone
OFF with easy bounds. striking its feet
altogether and making huge plunges
some ten or twelve feet apart
''Whew! Must have been quite
cat,-' cried Uncle Wash. Guess we
will follow this L little ways Looks
like big game"
On our snowshoeS, we didn't mind
the depth, the main thing being TO
keep out of the brush. But, after fol-
lowing for forty or fifty rods, we came
to where the trail was crossed by a
much more recent one
Gone along here some time to-day.
| should Judge" said Murch- MAY
overhaul him by following this. He
wouldn't run far at one heap. Shows
too deep"
Looking to the printing of our guns,
la nd
had gone twenty rods, perhaps when
the trail suddenly stopped Beyond a
certain point, where the last heavy
plunge had been made into the snow,
there were no more tracks!
Here was a strange terminus, GER
tainly; and we halted in considerable
surprise.
"Bclille he's snalling under the
snow cried Billy, coming up AN
he'll be laping out on u.s.
And we were laughing at Billy's hy-
pOthesis when a strange cry-a wild,
shrIll scream rang ont, seemingly
over our heads, Our eyes followed the
sound, and there, on the limb of a
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 4 fellow
cant turn round very quick on snow
shoes; but 1 assure you / wasn't long
performing that evolution. As | hadn't
been intruSted with either of the guns.
/ 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 fired;
and, glancing over my shoulder. l saw
and heard heavy thud down into the
snow.
I'VE haven't hit him. He's coming
yelled Murch. No time for reloading
guns
Run. for heavens sake rum
shouted Uncle Wash, putting up be-
hind.
And. we did run. a man can run on
snowshoes-after n fashion-and pretty
tolerably fast at a pinch. But the
depth and softness of the snow alone
prevented us from being overtaken.
Screech after screech followed us as
we Topped along, but at 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 after
them full tilt, with the catamount not
four rods behind us The door was
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 a tree standing near, IL be-
gan sharpening its claws, making the
bark fly in 4 very suggestive manner.
Fix him this time, muttered Uncle
Wash, po1ing the muzzle of the rifle
out between the logs
'.An ready" exclaimed Murch, who
had thrust out his gun over the door.
They fired together With the re-
ports the creature sprang up with
savage growl. and, as if intending to
get into the tree, leaped upward upon
the trunk fifteen or twenty feet; but
falling back into the snow, turned and
bounded away.
After him." shou ted Murch, pulling
open the door and rushing out. After
him with your axes
We ran ont. There was blood where
the creature had stood and the trail he
was making was marked with great red
| blotches-
The whole gang now turned out
after us to hunt him down; but the
fighting part was over. At a distance
| of a quarter of u mile we came up with
| the old fellow lying painting and ex-
/ hausted in the snow. Another shot
| with few knocks from an AK, did the
| Job, and it was amusing to see how
brave the whole gang became in the
course of a few minutes--N. Y. Ad-