The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-03-04
TOLD BY 4 aAHcnea.
A Faithful Dog Procures Gun ana
Saves His Matters Lie.

T. L. Bates. ! rancher living about
twelve miles from Seattle, told Press.
Times reporter . most peculiar story.
"Not long ago." he said,y"I had occasion
to go some miles up in the country on
business, returning late in the afternoon.
/ was accompanied BY my dog, . big
black Newfoundland, but not expecting
to be out after nightfall, did not take my
gun. started much later than expect
ed, however, and was still about two
miles from home when my hair was raised
almost on end by piercing shrek that
echoed and re-echoed among the trees OF
the forest through which l was travelling,
finally dying away in long, nournfui
vail. That it was cougar I had no
doubt, and fearing that the animal might
be Just down from the mountains and
crazed with hunger, l pressed rapidly on
ward, intent on reaching home as soon IS
possible.
II had hardly gone 100 yards, however,
before the cry was repeated, tins time al
most at my very elbow. Hooked around
and saw two living balls of fire glazing At
me through a neiehboring thicket. That
! was in imminent danger I no longer
doubted. called my dog. but the sound
Of the underbrush being broken down in
the distance was oil that remained of him.
He had abandoned me to my fate. There
was but one thing to be done. l could
not hope to outrun the cougar. Before
had gone half dozen steps he would be
on my back.
'Hastily gathering few dry twigs ]
started small fire, hoping and praying
that before this lost its charm upon the
animal help would arrive from some
quarter; where, l hardly knew. Fol-
some moments all was quiet and then ]
heard q stealthy breaking of twigs As il
the animal was trying to creep up on me-
! saw his eyes glazing at me from the
thicket, and then he emitted another one
of those mournful bowls, but this time il
seemed to me as if it were more cry OF
triumph. gathered more fuel and put
on the fire, heaping it up as much IS pos
sible.
SHOW long this state of affairs contin
ued have no means Of telling, but sud.
denly l heard in the distance the tramp.
ing of feet and rustic of bushes as though
some persons were making their way
through the underbrush. The steps
ceased. halloed as loudly as possible,
and the noise at once recommended, ap-
preaching rapidly. l had hardly time to
thank God for the approaching succor
when suddenly there burst into the circle
of hight caused by the fire my dog, carry
ing in his mouth my trusty rifle. 1t waa
but the work Of an instant to snatch the
rifle from his mouth. draw bead on the
two cleaning balls of fire in the thicket
and fire. There was a vail of almos,
mortal agony, and then all was etill.
II was too much unnerved to investigate
the thicket, but hurried home, followed
by my trusty dog. When l arrived there
found my wife almost dead from fright
About forty minutes before the dog had
come bounding against the door, break
ing the latch, after which he sliced my
gun and darted off again into the dark
ness. The next morning I visited the
scene of my adventure and carried the
cougar to my residence. He measured
seven feet from tip to tip"