The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-24
CAGING A COUGAR.

It was clear, pleasant Gay late in the
&ll. 'Just right for Il fine time in the
woods" thought VIII Hagar, as he vigor-
ously handled the ak on the woodpile back
of the comfortable farmhouse which was
his home 1t was the early morning, and
the calm beauty of the scene promised an
ideal day. He would take his gun and wan
der through the deep woods that stretched
for miles short distance to the north of
the house. He took his gun with him as
matter of course, though it was not his
main object to hunt-that would come in
as side issue-for though he was good
shot and fairly successful with both rod
and gun these sports were by no means
paramount With him.
Will was essentially student and nat
uralist, and to wander for days through
the woods, examining and peering into ev-
erything new and strange, was his greatest
delight Therefore his disappointment can
easily be imagined when he was forced at
length to acknowledge to himself that 1t
would be impossible for him to attend the
winter school at the Corners, four miles
from his home. Ali summer he had hoped
to be able to save sufficient money for the
necessary books and better clothing to en-
able him to attend, but thus far with only
poor success There were few opportunities
to earn money in that neighborhood. and
no felt that he could not ask any assistance
of his father, for, owing to several unfor-
tunate events following close after each
other, Mr.. Hagar was just then in strait
ened circumstances.
Will was thinking of this as he walked
rapidly along. 'I'll just have to miss the
term, that's all. can keep my eyes open
and learn all can BY myself, and maybe
shall have.en opportunity next winter" he
unused as he plunged into the stretch of
woods nearest his home.
Once among the trees his naturalistic IL
stinct swallowed up all other thoughts,
and he strolled on deeper and deeper into
the woods, completely absorbed in his sur
roundings. About midday he reached
region where he had rarely been before,
and after another half hours walk which
took him still deeper into the unbroken
forest he came across deserted cabin.
Out of curiosity he entered it. Though it
it had been erected some time before, when
some lumbermen had been cutting in the
vicinity, it had been so well constructed
that it was still in fair condition. There
was a heavy door still hanging on one
hinge. As it threatened to shut him in,
Will propped it open with stick.
The interior, as revealed by the open door,
was rather uninviting. with its rough walls
and nails driven in here and there. On one
side some wooden hunks were badly in need
of repair The hard ground floor was COW
cred with cans, empty rifle and revolver
cartridges and large miscellaneous collec-
ton of the castoff belongings of the former
tenants. In one corner a roughly con-
structed ladder led up to what had evident
Iy been a sort Of loft. Time had rotted the
floor the greater part of it lying on the
ground below. The ladder rested on a
heavy beam running close across One cor
ner of the structure and short distance be-
low the roof This beam had evidently
been the nucleus of the loft and was now
the only sign Of it time had left remaining.
The sky looked through the roof in sew
eral places, but the strong log walls would
withstand many storm yet. A short in
spection served to satisfy Wills curiosity,
and coming out he struck off in the direc-
ton of his home, intending to slowly pro-
coed thither.
A short distance from the cabin he
glanced upward, attracted by large bird
slowly flying among the trees. AS he fol-
lowed its movements with his eye, sudden
Nv ulS llauc6 Chronological SOAlCtuAuE HG1CA
seemed to freeze the blood in. his veins.
There in tree, a short distance in adj
vance, lay stretched along limb large
animal watching him intently. Will stopped
short. He at Once recognized the beast as
a cougar, and an extraordinarily large one
it appeared to his startled eyes. 1t was far
better to avoid an encounter il possible. he
knew, but there lay the difficulty. From
II !, I,
tail switching from side to side, his sharp
claws sinking deep into the bark of the
tree. and his cleaning eyes fixed steadily
on the boy, he was evidently on the point
Of making spring.
Alone in the forest, facing such an en-
envy, was enough to make an experienced
hunter quail. VIII stood stock still. He
seemed unable to move, though he well
knew that only prompt action could by
any possibility save him. To risk shot
in the cougars present position would be
almost useless, but as nothing else seemed
left him he determined to fire. Should he
fail to MORALLY wound his antagonist he
would be practically defenseless, for be-
fore he could reload the animal would be
hpon him, and the hunting knife, which
was his only belt weapon, would be but a
poor QeIenSS
So as nothing else was apparently to be
done Will determined to trust to lucky
shot and raised his rife, but before he
could aim it the cougar, with an unearthly
screech, bounded from his perch and landed
within few feet of him.
Not a moment was now to be lost, and
with a palpitating heart the boy took a
hasty aim and fired. Then throwing down
his gun he turned sharply and dashed in
the direction from which he had come. He
knew better than to wait to see the effect
of his shot, and it was well that he did so,
for scarcely had he gone arod when he be-
came aware that he had not succeeded in
killing the cougar
For few moments after he had fired all
was quiet, and glancing back Will hoped to
zee the beast in his death throes, but no
such welcome sight met his eyes. What he
did see and what instantly sent him off
again at his best speed was the cougar slow
ly rising and biting viciously at wounded
forepaw from which stream of blood
flowed. Then he uttered several frightful
screams and came bounding after him in
eager pursuit.
Will looked 10 longer; he had seen
enough, But where he was running to or