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

two.
VIII was becoming tired and winded;
but, with fixed idea Of keeping himself
out of the clutches of the cougar as long as
possible he ran on. In a minute more the
cabin which he had Quilted short time
before came in view. Perhaps it would
pffer a shelter, and eXerting his remaining
strength the boy dashed inside, the cougar
Mt his very heels. There was no time to
shut the door and keep him out, as he had
hoped to do, and with despairing cry Will
sank to the floor.
Just then he happened to see the dilapi-
dated ladder standing in the corner. With
q last effort he leaped to it, and mounting
hastily drew himself up on the crossbeam
against which it rested-not second too
soon either, for as he reached the top OF
the ladder the cougar sprang through the
open door, and with single bound landed
directly underneath him. Exerting all ms
strength, Will pushed heavily against the
ladder, and with o sigh of satisfaction saw
it fall to the ground. That at least would
offer no easy path for his pursuer.
The fall of the ladder somewhat discon-
certed the cougar, and he sprang back,
landing against and breaking the stick
which Will had on first entering the cabin
stuck in the ground to keep the heavy door
open.
The door, no longer held open, swung
slowly shut, and the cabin was in almost
total darkness, relieved only by the light
streaming through several holes in the dl-
lapidated roof.
The cougar, nothing daunted, crept slow
" back from the door, his tail switching,
and his eyes, shining like two live Goals in
the semidarkness, fixed steadily on the
boy, who was clinging with all his might
to his scanty support. Suddenly the ami
NAL launched his body forward and up
ward directly at Will, who shrank as close
as possible to the wall at his back and held
his breath A moment and the suspense
was over, for the animal, with low growl,
dropped back to the floor, having failed to
reach his victim. Again and again he
sprang upward, but never succeeded in
quite gaining foothold. Once indeed his
forepaws did strike the beam on which
Will lay, and the boys heart sank within
him; but, owing to the wound which Will
had succeeded in INJECTING, the animal was
unable to retain his hold again and dropped
back.
Finally his vindictive hate seemed to
cool with the realization that he could not
reach the boy, and he began scratching at
tho door With the evident nurnose of seek
~ az fresh o,1tar air INIT the heavy door
ras;s+ad oil HE attano,,ts and remained shut
e. fa,,, ,,,o,,, az,te he ,etired To a coy.
NOV and stretcb;ne, ont beoan licking his
a,,,,aaa 10, l<es,,ing yatcb-
FIJI era IN viii and growIing Iondlv IF he
made the least movement.
VOW ,,,,c NO. fortahIa IN his cramred nosi,
tinn Tess than two feet above him was
tba roof and With the rougb walls forming
10 oo,.nar ~ tho oahir On close as 10 haraIv
adr,;t Of HE changing his nosit;on at ali
tic ,,reoario,,s ref11e did NOT offer verv in
TO-. 80 r. o,-.. ,.+e,.s
'A T,hs oa,,aar tho,,o,, he MIGHT bava loft
+ha osh;n 81 frs+ con,d ha have onsned tLe
door now, saanoed 70 have GIVEN m oil
tho,,,bt If Getting ont and from, bis cor.
a ~ ferv faet a,sav olored f,xa51,, 81
49, ~ 0oooo;on.llv 70 reI;ave The W..
,.otonv be yyo,,ld craan SLOWLY fortv.rd
| and 1snncb;no bin,salf ,,nyvari endeavor
| ~ reacb the crossbeam hnt owing To bis
| ,y,,,nded forenayv he ALWAYS fell short of
bis mari
After each fresb atternnt VIII braathed
aasier for he noticed that doubtless OWN
70 tbe loss of blood ana narrow confines oi
| the cabin the animals leans seemed In iose
their no1aer and each time he fell ftarther
abort Nothing da,1nted annarentlv AFTER
a few noinntes, rest he wouid again Green
slowly forward and repeat the attemnt.
viii was Thus Rent in a lively state Of
terror continually. for fear the cougar might
| finally be- able to reach him. The heavy
loo walls on either side offered no means Of
| exit, and he had a sort of shrinking timid-
inv about descending and making his way
| out through the door. CHANGING up. he no
| ticed nv the small bit of slsvyisible fhrouph
several holes in the roof that it was getting
late in the afternoon.
A Thought struck him. Perhaps he could
get out on the roof. He turned on his back
| and looked directly aboye him. The wood
seemed soft and rotten in many places. and
| with his knife. which fortunately he still
! had in his belt. he determined to at least
make the effort. The roof here was less
than two feet above him.
Cautiously raising himself to a half sit
| ting nosition. he began to cut hole suf-
| ficientlv large to admit of his squeezing
| through. With one hand he piled the knife.
| while with the other he clung tenaciously
|