Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-06-03
TRAILED BY A PANTHER.

In TIE spring of '73 entered the ser
vice of the Canadian Government IN the
CAPACITY of rodman in one OF the nu-
merous parties which at nat time were
engaged in trying to locate practicable
route for the projected Canadian Pacific
Railway through the bowling wilderness
which stretched away westward from the
shores of Lake Superior.
Ny party had spent the summer ins
running levels between Thunder Bay and
Lake Shebandowan, and late in the fall
had gone into camp near the first rapids
of the Kaministiquia River, distant about
twenty miles from its mouth.
More than two months had passed
since the receipt of our last mail; so i'm
mediately upon our arrival at the river,
messenger had been dispatched for it to
Prince Arthurs Landing, about twenty
three miles down stream, with instruc-
tions to return without delay.
Six DAYS had elapsed since Sandy Mac
pherson. our messenger, had donned a
clean shirt and babe us goodbye, with
many a hearty assurance OF speedy
return; and we were still looking anx-
iously and vainly down the trail for the
first sign of his bushy whiskers.
On the evening of the day aforesaid
the situation in camp had become simply
desperate. Twenty big-fsted Highland
ers sat on the trunk of a fallen tree Just
outside the camp and cursed Sandy Mac
pherson; and they were still at it when,
late in the afternoon, | threw myself
bodily into the ever widening breach and
announced my intention of starting for
the Landing at once.
A ul in the mems swearing succeeded
my declaration, and Sandy Mcpherson
heartless desertion of his brother Scott,
in distress was forgotten as twenty pair:
OF hard, honest hands helped me tC
grid on my armor, which consisted of an
old muzzle-loading "Colt's, and a heavy
hunting knife.
The day had been a gloomy, threaten
ing one, and Just as had completed my
arrangements for departure, cold driz
cling rain set in But off | went at an
Indian lope, half hour of which brought
me to the junction of the trail with the
Pigeon River mailroad at which poin
and close to the river bank, a crew O
wood choppers from the old Hudson
B0y post of Fort William had recently
erected log shauty. As was passing
this lonely habitation two men, wh'
were pushing punt in the stream
hailed me and inquired whittier | wa
bound. Upon learning that | was Of
my way to the settlement, they Offered
me seat on a pile of empty meal sack
in the bottom OF the boat, Informed N
ne the same time that they were about Z
null down 10 the company's farm, distau
about six miles, 20 bring back q cargo @
potatoes. gladly accepted the invita-
ton. and wo were soon bowling dow
stream RS fast AS two.mile cuutat an
fauf siout arms could send VS.
Ny fellow yoyagers, who we're BOG
seatptmen. seemed we'll pleased io haf
"a guest and chatted almost necessarily
tha uey craft shot down the s~o''t
current
N had beea running Ia mli iifr4'
from lh- HsFf hHt aa iha boat taNAA
aahsp uau1 ia fhr dgef 30 that lH'H
usH4a ssa ahlth sfaAw'lG iHm.aAl
m DAVIS atiHa taa .mt an 4
fHuE.i. Ihe haast sHd sIhf a
ta.H I..i HlIE bale "a l.Eea UW.f tNt'
#eHHi aHA Gas Ht.i Hssl Ell tIIA.a#
wt0HHHl la Ia. Hstl t.# s.
l HHH allaE ta
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