Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-05-11
A WILD.CAT HUNT. IN SOUTH
CAROLINA.
For the Keowee Courier ]

upper South Carolina some years
Stree, waiting for my companions,
with whom ! had arranged a wild
cat hunt. They said it was not the
right season, but as cats frequently
destroyed young lambs and pigs, we
agreed to try nights hunt any way.
1t was in the latter part of April.
The air had just been refreshed by
thunder-shower, and the last rays of
the sun, just disappearing behind the
distant mountains, were reflected by
the rain drops on the trees and grass
like so many diamonds. The air was
balmy and grateful to tired humanity.
The leaves, which in that climate put
forth early, were nearly full grown,
clothing hill anil dale in a soft, deli
cate green mantle, while the honey
suckle, violet and dogwood blossoms
laded the air with sweet perfume.
Yonder to the East shown IN great
splendor that beautiful phenomenon,
the rainbow, painted in gorgeous hues
against the sky. Away toward the
South winds.thc small river, or creek,
like silver ribbon, until it is lost in
the mazes of the forest. On the hill
slopes in the distance the tank-a-lank-
a-tank of bells told that the COWS
were coming home, while the tink-
ling of sheep bells made very pretty
accompaniment. From a distance
tcame the sound Of the axe, as the
Settler prepared the nights fuel, aid
from the opposite hillside came the
not unmusical "pig-ee, pig-oo" OF the
farmer calling his swine for their
evening feed. The dignifed "bob-
white" piped his shrill notes from the
old rail fence on the hill, bobbing his
head up and down meanwhile, as If
beating time.
The sun had now entirely disap-
peared, leaving brilliant glow in
the Western horizon, which gradu-
ally faded away as the purple mist
deepened on the distant mountains.
The plaintive notes of the whippoor-
will were now heard echoing from
afar, the FREELY Illuminated the scene,
and the roar of a distant cataract
added to the grandeur of the sur
roundings, while the soft breeze sighed
mournfully through the tops OF the
tall pines.
Suddenly my horse pricked up his
ears and listened attentively, and
soon | heard the clatter of horses
hoofs coming up the road. 1t proved
to be my companions, who were very
tardy. Soon we were mounted and
cantering briskly toward the noun
tains.
Arriving at the foot OF the noun
tains we dismounted, and, leading
our horses to a sheltered spot some
distance from the road, we fetteree
them securely and set out. A lout
blast from the horn resornded through
the mountain soiitudes, the hound
scattered out and the hunt began.
After about half an hour of wait
ing the deep baying OF a hound abou
half mile from where we stood tol'
us that g cat had been scented. Th
r other dogs hurried to the spot, an
soon they were going full tilt on tn
:. trail. We bad some pretty brisl
: running and walking to keep within
: hearing of the pack. The barking
e Of the hounds was to my ears tn
L finest music had ever heard, an
:. being stranger to the country an
e such sports, the effect on my feeling
t was pleasant indeed.
r After about three hours of rur
IS ming, walking, crawling, climbing an
If falling over mountain crag, gorg
e and glen, we heard all the dogs barl
e ing furiously, and our leader, wh
.e was gigantic mountaineer of 81
n feet two, decided that they had baye
st him. But there was nearly mi
re of the toughest land imaginab
% between us and our game. We stun
d, bled on over rocks, logs, brush ar
is gullies until we came to the tree
,e which his catship had climbed.
lie One of the party had brought alor
R. some torch-pine for the purpose
< ssshining his eyes" This was sot
er lighted, and after much walkl1
IS. around the tree, craning of nee
en- and strainirg of eyes, the red gia
a of the torch was reflected by ty
I'd glaring balls initSe top ot the tre
~ which looked like fre-baiis.
MT. aHere she air, boys; jist look
h 'er ize," exclaimed our torchman.
q ). "Jes' lemme hev half chance WI
this here ole musket, an his ize wol
I'd shine up thar much longer" said Q
ats marksman.
Placing the gun-barrel on t