The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-09

eide I1tzc rock formation directly az
| der a Juniper pine. WHOSE branchc1
| forlsc.i - low that had tostoop % ga
upder the tree. had Just rushed the
berry siaden branches aside with ny
bosscd shoulder, and was reachlng for
the torn carcass Of The bird when !
| l,carl . scream and . growl and felt
myself struck on the back of the neck
| IS 4 weight that sifnply knocked me
entlrayR fell IA my FACE, with ny
nose serving as ! drill for the xarions
quartz formations on The section and
lay where fell for some little time
at least, fer the weight stu tarried
with me. III fastened itself 70 my
left shoulder. and there Il staid for
some seconds after ! had fallen AZ
soon as could withdraw my nose and
checIr-b bones from the rock turned my
head 70 sec where I was and what had
struck me. When ! did, discovered
that was mingled 10 a great extent
with q forty-pound wildcat, and that
was al the bottom Of the mixture The
animal had fastened his teeth 10 my
left shoulder Just az the time Il had
sprung upon me. and was now trying 70
make its Jaws meet on my collaFbone.
One foot with several batteries Of
claws. was caressing the scalp on the
back part Of my head, and the other
was toying with my whiskerA ! had
no weapon, not even knife, for had
left that In my saddle pockets. and my
revolver was likewise precisely where
It wasn't wanted ! had nothing what
ever on my person except q lead pen
ell. some pieces ofastring and small
bottle Of aqua ammonini the latter /
always carried 70 be used ~ . sover.
cign remedy for snake bites, scorpion
and ccntipede stings. etc. TO which .
prospeotor III those latitndes Ii always
exposed The little vial had more than
once saved me from serious discomfort.
not 70 say desth. and somehow. with
that gopging. chewing and scratching
load Of intensihed deviltry on nY<neck.
] thought Of that insignificant flask.
Reaching for my coat pocket ! pro
cured II, and uncorlring II. for my
hands were comparatively free, !
stretched out my right arm and poured
the contents down the face Of the cat
and into It's eyea
The fiery. pungcnt liquid did It's Office
we'll, for the monster. with d villainous
scrcech. dropped his hold and began
70 roll around upon the ground In All
the agony TO Be gotten out of four
ounce vial Of strong ammonia improp-
erly applied. ! staggered 70 my feet
reached my ride, and while his catship
was biindly endeavoring to find out the
exact locality gave him the benefit Of
all the pumps could get out Of VIM
chester In good working order lie
measured something over four foet
from tip TO tip. and was lusty speci-
men Of his kind lie had climbed the
oak, bitten of the turkeys neck. and
dragged 1t out Of sight before begin
ming his meal. He had evidently seen
me coming, and, wishing to hide. en-
sconsed himself in the branches Of the
juniper near his prize. My close prox-
unity and the instinct that was going
to deprive him Of his lately acquired
ration In all probability induced him
TO the attack
II Is unnecessary TO state that
didn't furnish much game for the out
fit during the next two weeks. for
when came out Of that discussion
was, rs Sally 6queers would say, %
mass Of bruises. and II required some
Of Johnson's skill In field surgery TO
fx me up In fact, when rode into
camp my .'pard,' who was already
there with fresh supply Of venison,
failed TO recognize me because Of my
s.ringed, strealed and striped appear
ance. and thought that was painted
Apache looking for trouble, and done
mp in red. The best part Of my star
board whislers were gone. and would
never more make stand-of with the
balmy breezes Of sunny southern Ari-
zona. My coat and shirt were but
memories all the scalp / had left
would not have kept Geronimo specn-
1ating very long. ! never sold the pelt
of the cat or asked any reward from
the territory for his taking of. John
son. who was . good taxidermist.
followed out his hide and mounted 1t,
though 1t never required sight Of II
TO remind me Of the closest call ever
had St Louis Globe Democrat