The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07
NOT BABY OR BASsHEE.
It was q BIg Wildcat whose Cry startled
Jake Rascon.

ESSEX, Oct. 5-Strding about the heavy
woodlands in the lower Connecticut Valley. not
many miles from this hamlet Jake Bascom, the
trapper, came upon the bald summit OF Sumach
Hill in the middle OF the afternoon and sat
down to breathe himself on piece OF stone.
Suddenly out OF the heart of the deep woods
queer. querulous cry. much like the sound Of an
infant waiting or sobbing, was borne to him
from afar. and the old trapper sprang erect,
wide awake in All instant, gun in hand, and
listened intently. most unlikely spot it was.
the brow OF Sumach Hill. TO hear the voice of a
child lAmentlng, and. perhaps, the fancy crossed
the hunters mind momentarily that banshee
was abroad In the wildwood and might rush out
OF the bush and leap upon him. But the cry had
passed in low and long -drawn esdences, and a
hush pervaded the woodland again.
Still Bascom remained in his watchful, motion
less pose, his forehnger toying with the triggers
of his gun, and presently the same cry nearer
this time. welled up out of the great OF foil
age. The trapper peered steadily into the
depths OF the rough country near at hand. He
was utterly at a loss 10 account for the strange
cry. In all his long experience In woodcraft
never before had he noted one exactly like IL
so far away from human habitations, and whils
there was something sharp and strident about
the forest cry, nevertheless, so nearly perfect
was its stimulation that Bascom still more than
half believed that II was the plant OF some val
ley waif in woful plight in the wilderness In
a moment the weird sound was repeated but it
was a screech this time, so near II was; and,
glAncing down into the forest at front Of the
ridge Bascom was rudely startled 10 see the
treetops bending and thrashing about a. II =
heavy body was passing through them.
Then In fash the canny wOOdsman OWNED
that It was no pleading baby sstrsy that con-
fronted him, but big and powerful wildcat
hungry. snArllng with rage, that was coming
through the trees directly toward his eyrie.
With light tread, and STOPPING low the
trspper stole through the underbrush among
the tall trees and finally emerged. every nerve
tingling with excitement FROM the novel sport,
in glade almost directly beneath the wildcats
perch. As Bascom glided into the opening, his
weapon half way 10 his shoulder, two fingers
pressing Its triggers, the fierce beast almost lei
S ms eSns and Md s
away. But an old hand ike Bsscom is not
easily dauntsd by din and whOop. Moreover, he
had come not unprepared for his antagonist In
tTice his heavy duck gun heY % Lis shoulder,
and both baIrels, chaFsed Win hea!y pellels'
Its ten 70 one, said Jake. in the village store
later, that the critter never Knew what allied
him, for he jest come down outer thai OAK, end
over end instAnter aud when he hit the ground
he was bout IS dead a. 4 door nail. Just
kicked wunst or twice, rolled over two or three
times dug up few g0bs of muck, clawed bit
At himself, then rolled over and kicked and
twilchsd. In hye seconds he slrsightensd out
on his back stun dead
Jake reloaded his gun With heavy shot, belieY-
ing he should meet with the eats mate not far
away; then he got his big game on his shoulder
Eilh stRlWRrt tug and staFled through the for
est homeEar the cats head trailing along be-
hind him. Ii MAS a beautiful animal one OF the
biggest mighIiest, most handsomely cOlOred aud
strik ingly marked wild beasts ever slain In the
Nutmeg State. Arrived IN Essex. having dragged
HE game miles through the rough woodlands,
Jake Slug Il down on the village scales and
watched the weighing lever with power Of In
terested curiosity Ia his eyes.
"Gosh!" said he. finally, With surprise and
Satisfaction - the arm OF the scales shot up %
the thirty and notch and stood there steadily.
Jake didn't hay bis biz cat; he knew ; game
worth t6o u that. On the contrary. hs t1at