River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-06-14

part Oh THAT EUNAAAr II Wa 80VuN oAAN
mile and half from the four starting
points 70 this eminence.
Deputy Ray who is a man of SPLEEN
did nerve. chose the toughest route.
and the one by which he was most
likely 10 meet the object Of the search.
lie had not proceeded far. on horse
back, until he was compelled To dis
mount IL was impossible for the horse
20 90 further over such rough cJun-
try, and. besides. il was safer, as his
life probably depended on his seeing
Davis before Davis saw him; so. after
lettering his horse, he proceeded on
foot.
As he approached deep. dark hOl-
low. dense with timber and under
growth. he was sure ne heard some
thing not far ahead of him. He hid
behind a tree and waited for some
time. but. as he could hear nothing
more, he was soon slipping ahead
again. The idea OF a wild animal
never had occurred 10 him. and he
fully expected to meet the old moon
sinner every minute. Across the bot
tom of the hollow was fallen tree,
WHICH EfNLs-tA aUftuN tel AI AAAANtA Att-N
from the ground. The marshal started
20 walk across this log to the other
side. This was about the last act in
the search Of which he has anything
like distinct recollection. When he
was about midway of this accidental
footirg he heard noise in the trees
overhead. Ills hand dropped instinct
lively To his siN-Shooter. a. he looked in
the direction from whence came the
sound. lie was almost paralvzed with
sudden and terrible fear. Crouchiug
upon an extended liT1b of tree. ten
feet from his head, was "A huge pan
Their. His courage returned as quickly
as IL had gone. but he had only time To
draw the weapon from his belt when
the monster plunged at him. lie
lodged its leap. but mis- foot slipped on
the log and he fell 50 heavily that he
was rendered unconscious when he
struck the stony bottom Of the gulch.
Just how long he remained in this
condition the marshal could not tell.
IL seemed To him only a moment. but.
in fact. IL was quite an hour. during
which time this powerful beast and its
mate dragged him 10 their den. more
than a hundred yards up the gore.
AS consciousness began 10 return. the
first idea that occurred To- him was that
water had been dashed into his face.
Next he remembered the ferociOus
beas. and his fall. The whole terrible
picture fioated before his dazel senses
like dream But he was rescued and
surrounded ~ mystery. He struggled
up To a sitting posture and tried To
speak. but he was too faint 70 utter a
sound. and seemed To be partially blind.
The strange. damp atmosphere and
semi-darlSness puzzled him for a few
moments. but his Efforts To restore his
vision soon revealed to him the as
founding fact that he was not blind.
but in a cave. This dis .overy brought
with il the startling realization that
he was in the panther's den. and that
he was expected 10 furnish that animal
its next meal His hand hunted for his
revolver again. Ii was gone, II had
fallen from his hand and was lying at
the bottom of the rocky gulch. where
the panth r Lad made its spring.
Ills apparently hopeless condition
dawned upon mar with such peculiar
force that he was lust about To lose
consciousness again when he heard
noise a. if made by something approach
ing the mouth of the cavern. Was il
man or beast. rr>cuer or captor. life or
death? Such thoughts a. these flashed
through the mind of the marshal. who
was almost ready Ia give up in despair;
but the impression that some one had
thrown wafer into his face furnished
slender thread 70 sustain his hope.
Ina moment. which seemed almost like
an hour, he saw enter the grotto tall
muscular man. carrying in his hands a
broad brimmed s'ouch hat full Of wa
ter. II was Rabe Davis. the terror of
the mountains. Bnt the officer had NO
fear of him now. since it must have
been he ho threw the water into his
face and was returning again on his
mission of mercy. His opinion of
the mOonshiner quickly rose above
par. This tiuctuatiOR. il seemed, was
not mutual. for when Davis came near
enough To see that his patient was sit
ting up aud apparently convalescent
the mouutainrer dashed the water
upon the floor and fed from the cave.
The marshal tried to detain him long
enough 70 express his gratitude for his
deliverance. but he was too weak u
make himself heard. and Rabe passed
out Of sight. leaving the dazed marshal
10 solve the mystery of has remarka BILE
rescue alone.
When he had sufficiently recovered
10 regain his feet he struck a match.
and On looking around was - ,cSed to
behold lying. almost at his feet. the
dead bodies Of two pauthers. either Of
which was nearly as large a. himself
Both had been shot through the head
by a weapon of large caliber. The
floor Of the cave was literally covered
with the wool of sheep amt the car
cases of small animals. As soon as
possible he quilted the cave. and a. he
walked feebly from its entrance he
felt sure that pair of keen eyes some
where not far away were watching his
movements. But he was not afraid of
their poSSe>Sor before this terrible ex-
perienee. and felt that he had less
grounds 10 fear him now. -. without
appearing to suspect the presence of
anyone, hewent away a. fast as posi-
BILE
He soon reached his horse and there
found his associates. who. fearing that
harm had befallen him. were prepar-
ing 20 make search. His injuries
were not serious. and few DAYS rest
at a cabin down in the settlement
brought him around all right
While waiting for his wounds To
heal he was able to learn the other
side II his fearful experience The old
moonshiner had seen the marshal. pre-
vious to the attack Of the panthers.
and had rightly judged. from the lat
tiers skulking actions. that an effort
was being made by posse IL surround
and capture him. He could have killed
the officer dozen times, but decided
10 conceal himself until he passed and
then go on about his business as