The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-07-28

Will ou AA8Ay on sAOA'
John CARING trapped that panther
oack in the north swamp This stroke
Of good luck-as IL was regarded then
-befell the old hunter early Ia Deem
her. The news spread rapidly, and
few DAYS later Mel Drewitt and paid
him visit. His cabin was in lonely
hit of forest half q dozen miles from the
river.
The panther was confined in a stout.
oalsen cage. built for the purpose. II
was then nearly full-grown, and was
unusually plump and fat it's sleek, red
dish-yellow fur was beautifully shaded,
and its thick powerful limbs gave evil
dence OF great strength. IL was almost
as large as Newfoundland dog.
But more vicious and ill-tempered
beast Mel and had never seen. 1t was
continually pacing up and down its mar
row limits, and whenever we ventured
near the Stats it snarled with rage.
CARING had the reputation of being
taciturn and little crusty, but on
this occasion he was quite talkative,
and gave us lively account of the
beasts capture.
The crittur amt very good-tem-
percd," ne concluded. but reckon I'll
tame him nrter while"
''Do you intend TO make pet Of
hlm?" asked Mel
The old trapper eyed us for an in
slant with half-smile lighting up his
grzzlcd features
Yes" he replied. dryly, I'll teach
him ter foller ne round like dog.
He'll be good company in the long win
ter evenings. and venison is SO plenty
that it won't cost much for his keep
With this jesting remark. CARING
wargied off our inquisitive questioning.
though he intimated vaguely that we
might know more long about spring"
You ought to name your pet" ]
suggested. as we were about starting
homeward. '''Spitfi-e would just
suit"
80 it would. lad" laughed the trap
per Much obliged for the idee. III
call the varmint 'Spitfire.'
Well. the winter months went rapid
IL by, and spring began 10 loom up in
TO busy to visit the lonely cabin. but
we heard from time to time that Spit
fire was thriving in his close quarters
aud was growing more ill-tempered
every day.
About the middle Of March arrived
the spring rains and thaws. and down
from the hills poured the torrents OF
melted snow. The ice broke on the
river and was whirled away. The West
branch became raging, yellow flood,
and forest trees, far up on the banks,
were Tapped by the swirling eddies'
When the food had subsidized little,
tho scene Of activity was transferred
from the lumber camp to the river.
The first raft was quickly built into
sections and bound together with hich'
ory withes. II was of medium size and
contained selected pine planks. Its
destination was Columbia, town on
tn. lower Susquchanna, within forty OF
fifty miles of Chesapeake bay. This
was as promising q trip as Mel or
could have desired, for the distance was
all ~ two hundred and fifty miles.
: 1yie raft was fitted with two
sweeps" as the gigantic steering-oar'
are called. Near the stern was small
cabin. containing hunks and cook
stove. II had sort of an annex at ont
side, in which were stored potatoes ant
slabs of maple-sugar. These bclonge,
TO the raftsmen, and were to be sold o.
traded of at stopping places along thu
way.
Three of Mr. Drewitt's most tried ant
trusty men comprised the crew. Hack
EFT and Fosdyke were gaunt, sinew.
fellows, q little gr,iff outwardly. bu
sterling at heart. They were abou
fifty years old. Grubb was . stout
small.s sized man, with pleasant. good
humored face. lie had plenty Q
strength in his plump arms, but hi
chief qualification was cooking. Hewa
ten years younger than his comrades.
One sunny morning, early in April
Mel and stood aboard the raft, wait
Ing for the mooring lines to be cast on
Grubb and Fosdyke were ashore, tall
ing to a little knot Of lumbermen VIII
had temporarily stopped work on sec
ond raft. Mr.. Drcwitt stood near BY
giving Hackett his final instructions.
II wish they would hurry" e.
claimed Mel, impatiently. "Hull'
Look there!' he added.
A quecr-looking vehicle, drawn b
two mules. had just emerged from tt
forest and was moving down II
rugged road to the river. With II
utmost surprise, we recognized Spi
fires cage mounted on four wheel
John CARING was perched on top, dri
ing We hurried over the plank
shore, and q moment later the tea
pulled up at the waters edge.
Say, Drewitt!" cried the trappcr,
he jumped to the ground. II want "
to co me a favor. l never knowed q
the other day that your raft was reat
70 start. VIII you let your men tai
this varmint down to Columbia, nj
ship 1t from there to New York
freight? The railroad amt hant
here. you know, an, besides, u
journey would be too long. II wor
be SO hard on the crittur II he star
from Columbia. I've made arrang
incnts by letter fur disposin' OF hiI
The cage is ready marked"
lie pointed 70 q card tackled on u
side, which bore in scrawling chars
a..