Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-04-20

which is almost perpendicular, he found
himself on the narrow bench that serv-
ed erstwhile as scant playground
where kids Of prehistoric times
tossed marbles, at the imminent risk
of breaking them. He peeped in at
the Strengthened entanceway, but the
place was quite dark and altogether
forbidding. He struck a match-one of
the kind that snaps and generally goes
out, but this one didn't; it cast sickly
light over a pile Of bones and wool, vel
lowed with age or blood, and cleaned
in the OrbS of fierce animal of some
kind. The smart young man perceive.
the balls of fire and fancied he had
struct rich bonanza of some sort.
Now, if there is anything a mountain
lion abhors more than anything else,
it is fire. Felis crouched in the farthest
corner and growled a deep note that was
half warning and half duplication,
which effectully startled the intruder
and brought him to his senses. He re-
treated quickly and, precipitating him.
self down the steep incline, he was soon
with his party and recounting his adj
venture in glowing terms.
The people wouldn't believe that he
had seen anything, and all volunteered
to go with him to the place and inyes-
tIgate, but the youth, whose name was
Opie, had journalistic aspirations. and
believing that he had o good thing to
write up, which didn't need any in
yesugatiOn. refused to return. The
ladies-there were two chaffed him.
but it was of no use, and the party set
out without him.
When they had reached a point within
fifty or sixty yards Of the house, a vel
loW-gray form was seen gliding from
the place with something in its mouth.
The guide had not seen it, and the de-
scriptions given by the tourists repre-
sented everything from a fabulous
monster to a horned toad
Approaching the house, the guide
entered, but Immediately sprang out
with an exclamation of alarm. He
wasn't scared Oh, no, it was some of
the Utes. as the Navajos say when
white mans pony disappears. He saw
a little notified kitten that advanced
playfully to meet him, and knew at
once that he was in a lions den.
He wasn't a Daniel, favored of God,
and he concluded to skip at once
while he had a chance, but a tail Ger
man looked in, and seeing only a kit
ten, fancied it would be nice to carry it
away with him. The guide protested
to no use, and the party thoroughly
frightened for the most part, FASTENED
to retrace their steps to camp.
hat evening they discussed the mat
ter by blazing fire of pinions, and the
guide had a way of glancing toward the
2rub-boX, where mewing cyclone
was Gagged, that showed his anxiety.
The campers rolled themselves in
Navajo blankets about 10 o'clock, and at
midnight thing happened which all
will remember and shudder when they
think Of 1t.
The guide had just begun to think
it was all right, and the cougar would
be content with the kitten she had car
ried away, when he was startled by
the sudden braying Of a dozen pack
bUllros. The timid creatures scented
danger and rushed headlong among
the SleeperS for protection. Moreover,
they didn't seem to care whose stom-
achs they walked over, but used the
whole body polite, as there represented,
alike, without regard for race, color,
sex, or previous condition of servitude.
The men sWore, the ladies screamed,
and the cat made her appearance sud
denly in the midst of it all. With one
bound she landed square on the stout
grub-boX and proceeded to reduce ii
to splinters. Her battered offspring
was secured, and the happy mother
was glad to take it and escape the
screams of the frightened ladies.
The tai German scholar didn't want
any truck with Il mountain lion after
that, and, for all / know, the bigpussy
holds the fort to this day, undisturbed
by relic hunters.
Who We're the cliff-dwellers- Where
did they come from and whittier are
they gone? Did Schwatka rediScOver
them in Mexico? If so, why did they
leave all, home, provisions, and weap-
ons, in moment and disappear? These
are questions that all may ask, but none
there are that answer.
b. +. Sutherland.