The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-03
A STIRRING NIGHT.


plenty as were wild animals. Uncle Johnny
Racine lived two miles farther down the
road, and although l was a farmers son.
learned of Uncle Johnny the carpenters,
builders and millwright's trade. and we
were always in demand, Uncle Johnny and
l, for twenty miles around.
we were building d mill that fall beyond
the Shawangunk Mountains, at Wurtzbor-
ongh, In Sullivan County, about fifteen
miles from home. anG winter came on and
caught US with the job unfinished.
Either Uncle johnny or | made it point
to go home every Saturday afternoon and
stay over Sunday. On the particular Sat
urday that am going to tell you of it was
my turn. There was promise of a big
snowstorm close at hand, but | started.
stopped uften ana looked around, for l
knew 1t would be no triflng matter to stray
out OF the path. Il might mean a night in
the woods, with wild animals for CON-
panions. and 1t was bitterly cold.
Along toward twilight, which came early
that afternoon on account Of the storm,
when ieckuned l should h3 we'll along on
my fifteen miles toward home, entirely out
OF the forest and on the main road, noticed
fallen tree l had never seen before. 1t
was peculiar. A very large hemlock, with
perhaps fifty or sixty feet OF trunk free
from limbs. 1t had evidently been up
rooted by the wind and blown over. lis
huge main roots held ii up at the butt about
six feet, the height of a man from the
ground, Willie It's branches and the manner
In when the tree mad LOGGED in falling sup
ported the top at just about the same ele-
walton.
1t made me certain was out OF my way,
and darkness was fast approaching
climbed upon the fallen tree and paced
back and forth its entire length. straining
my eyes TO latch a glimpse of some familiar
landmark. Through the gathering dusk
and falling snow l could not discern any
tDlng mat gave q clew to my whereabouts.
L once more struck boldly out, making
tracks for what hoped would be home and
IN what thought was the opposite direc-
ton from that last taken.
Alas! In another half hour that huge
old fallen tree again doomed up before me-
l was lost in vast forest. with the
Shawangunk Mountains, that were filled
with 1eroc!ons wild beasts, between me
and home. and there was a drifting snow
storm and 1t was already dark.
Had been walking in the right direction
l would nave been warming my numbed
feet and hands before the cheerful blaze
in fathers kitchen and doing my part
toward olsposlng OF Sister Caroline's hot
supper. How | wished | was there.
Again | climed upon that tree trunk, and
this time sat down to think. | knew any
further attempt to ind my way out with
neither sun. moon nor stars would be utterly
useless, and that the n ight must be passed
iii that lonely forest; also that if | sue
cumbed tn drowsiness and fell asleep |
should either be frozen to death or eaten by
wild animals-the chance for the latter was
excellent anyway.
pulled out my large iaek-knife: it was
my only weapon OF defense. This knife"
l thought as l held 1t in my hand, sis prob
ably all that stands between me and a hor-
rioe death"
Next reflected that if for one moment l
should yield TO The fatigue and drowsiness
thar must before morning steal over me |
would be lost. l must, therefore, place N.Y.
self where there was nothing convenient to
lean against, aud must keep IN constant mo-
ton. a comparatively open space must De
chosen. where hungry animals could not
spring from cOncealiDg underOrush and take
me upawaTes.
The fallen tree. trunk seemed the least
perilOus place of any. 1t WIS raised from
the ground, and its length permitted quite a
walk back and forth. 80, for the third time
climbed upon it-there to pass the hours
of long night
BY and by | heard the cry OF wolves in
the distance, coming nearer sometimes
then sounding away in the distance, then
again coming nearer Every sense must be
on the alert. Eagerly l strained ears and
eyes that their approach might not find me
off my guard.
Along about Il or o'clock, as nearly as I
could calculate, 1t had grown considerably
lighter and tho snow had ceased TO fall
almost, when suddenly there walked out
from behind clunp trees over at my left
two large bears. | was much more afraid
OF them than had been of the wolves, and
taking ont my jack-knife l quickly opened
the largest blade, and grasping the knife
firmly IN one hand and my cudgel in the
other l awaited their coming, wide awake
now.
They came on slowly. bear fashion,
stopping every few minutes to raise their
black noses ia the air and sniff, and occa-
sionally sat upon their launches.
The minutes seemed like hours. Finally
they were quite close to the tree. First one
and thea the other stood upon its haun ches
and shifted the air. for | remained
motionless. Then the old she bear
cautiously lald one paw upon the tree trunk
AT that moment l inflated my lungs.
opened my mouth and gave vent to the
most ear-spltting shrek L ever COM
passed.
L think the animals had never heard such
yell-and viii say that, despite frequent
efforts, L have never succeeded in giving
another exactly like 1t. Evidently they
were very much surprised. Mrs. Bear
dropped to the ground as suddenly as If she
had been shot, and both, turning aside,
quietly and quickly SUNK out OF sight. They
didn't go far off, though. Ill the rest q
that night occasionally heard their growl-
ings, and once OF twice caught glimpses of
them skulking about through the trees.
Time passed and it seemed so much
lighter | thought the clouds must have
sky. Sure enough. the stars were out
There were TWO which seemed almost over
head. And how near And how very
bright. Strange, l thought, only those two,
so close together, so unusually brilliant. |
never bad particularly noticed inst such
stars before Then | made out the outlines
of the bare branches OF tree. and saw that
those stars were peeping out from tree,
not from the sky.
They were not stars. A catamount was
croucbed in those branches Just about
ready for a probably fatal spring And l
knew well enough just how the creature
looked. could see in Imagination how she
gathered for the leap; how her long tail
was flashing her body, and cautiously
backed away. keeping my eyes fixed upon
the two glowing Goals of fire, that seemed
first yellow, thon red, green-all bright,
flashing tints. And hacked hard and fast
with my jack-knife which had held open
since the approach of the bears, upon my
cudgel. No time was to be lost. AT any
moment the claws of that powerful sinewy
little beast might be fastened in my
shoulder. and the chances then for my life
would be slight.
Soon | had good-sized chunk cut off
from the cudgel, and taking straight aim
at those glowing balls OF ire. l threw with
all the strength and skill of my right arm.
Luckily it had been trained.
We'll, sir, that piece OF wood hacked off
the end of my cudgel with jaek-kuife,
owing to good luck-or something higher
and better than luck-struck the cat square
between the eyes as she sprang toward me,
causing her TO land. instead of on my head.
almost at my feet, with horrible yell and
roll off to the snow. Still yelping Mrs.
Catamount gathered herself up and limped
away. At safe distance she turned TO
look, but did not venture back.
Soon after this the stars-reai stars-shone
brightly out. and the moon that never before
had looked 80 good to ME as it did that
night. Before long the moon passed. the
stars dimmed, and Sunday mornings first
gray daylight appeared. The wolves had
ceased their cries and no sound had been
heard from them for at least half an hour
So let myself down from off the tree and
started for home, having taken my bearing
from the moon.
Before / had been long cut of the woods,
stumping laboriously along, my feet almost