The morning call., 1893-05-21
WILDCATS AND WATER.
Young Littlewood Learns How to
Avoid the Ferocious Beasts.


There is nothing more gullibe than a
country boy In the city except city boy
in the country, as young Littlewood can
tell any one who may inquire. Young
Littewood knows his way about San
Francisco as we'll as any other youth OF
20, and used TO go around as ''swaggerly"
as the rest of his set until in an evil hour
he pursuaded Herbert Hatch and Harry
Gendar to take him along fishing near
| Camp Taylor. When they came to make
camp Young Littlewood went off by him
self to fish, leaving his friends to do the
| work.
There was really no particular need of
young Littlewood's assistance-probably bly,
he would have been in the way-but be-
fore he returned, without any fish, of
course. there was rod in pickle for him.
1t as determined to teach him lesson.
But how? Unfortunately for young Little
wood next morning they all went down to
Camp Taylor, and there Hatch and Gem
dar explained their case to Assemblyman
jim Taylor, who holds forth as honface.
papeT-maunfacturer. wit and practical
joker.
SIS he green ?" asked Jim.
Born on the 17th OF March," said
Hatch.
"Ihe wildcat game will do for him
his iiieutenanis "old sharks" 10 be
sure" and others. and they began to tell
about the great number of wildcats about
and Of their fer0city. They are very good
liars are Jim and his friends when they
try to be, and it was not long before young
Lttlewood was worried and seeing the
seeming fear of his fellow. campers was
soon in panic.
II tell you what" said Old Shanks, ''if
you've got no gun there's only one way to
get away from them and that is to get into
deep water and stay there till they go
away. If there isn't any water handy.
heaven help you. Where's your camp?''
''On the edge of deep pool" said
young Littlewood.
Lucky for you, young man. More of
the blamed things around here this season
than | ever saw before, and I've been here
twenty years. You better get home before
dark"
On their way back to camp Hatch or
Gendar would occasionally drop behind
and fire a stone up in the bushes and
wonder aloud, TO young Littlewood's ter
ror. If the noise was not made by wild
cat. 1t was not long after reaching cam
before they considered the victim ready
for the sacrifice. Gendar went off some
distance above the camp, smaared his face
with mud, tore his shirt, laid aside his hat
and started for camp firing his pistol and
Yelling at the top of his voice, "Wildcats,
wildcats. Get in the water" Young Lit
tlewood stampeded. In hop, step aad
jump be was in tie pool up to his neck.
Hatch and Gendar got into the tent.
why don't you come into the water ?"
asked Littlewood.
afraid to leave the tent" was Hatch's
answer.
rs he there yet?"
They had TO reply tina. he was until
they composed themselves enough to keep
straight laces, and then young Littlewood
came out.
Later in the afternoon the same game
was worked by Hatch and a third time
after dinner by GeRdar. Young Little
wood before long came to the conclusion
that he. was the only cool man in the
crowd. for Hatch or Gendar when asked
why they didn't get in the water replied
That they were too badly ratified or had
not the presence of mind.
About O'clock Littlewood borrowed
GendarS clothes to wear while he could
dry his. and Ge3dar went tn bed. This
was Hatch's opportunity, and for fourth
time Littiewood took to the water and
Gendar's clothes we're soaked.
The next morning Young Littlewood
moved down to Camp Taylor for safety's
sake He is still wondering how Hatch
and Gendar conld become so badly ratified
as to forget to jump in the water.