Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-05-30

ward and fell into the stream, from
which it was soon dragged by the
dogs.
But the echoes made by the re-
port had not died out among the
hills before another sound aroused |
him. 1t was the scream of an
angry panther from the noun
tain behind him, and it was instant
ly answered by another far down
the valley on the left. Clyde heap
ed the dry limbs upon the fire, and
the dogs, usually as brave as lions,
whined piteously as they skulkad
close to his feet.
He waited in breathless anxiety
for several minutes, but could hear
nothing but the cracking of the fire,
which now threw a wide circle of
light, and the night wind among
the trees. Soon, following mag
netism which he could not account
for, he fixed his gaze upon tall
tree near the base of the mountain,
and encountered the glare of two
fierce, yellow eyes. A panther was
crouching there upon long limb,
every nerve of his body in motion
as he prepared for the fatal spring.
To aim and fire was the impulse
of second and the tawny brute
sprang outward with snarl OF
rage and pain, and fell squarely
into the fire. There was an UNI
earthly shrek, smell of burning
hair, a shower of Goals and lighted
wood, then the brute stood wound
ed and blind near tree. Sat him,
boys; at him." cried Clyde.
And the dogs closed on him, but
wounded as he was, he was more
than match for them. He killed
one and sent the others bowling to
safe distance before their master
could surely aim the second bullet
which quieted him. He was not an
instant too soon, however, for there
came another terrific scream, thi;
time from the tree directly over his
head.
"I'm ready for you now!" he cried
coolly sighting another panther be
tween the scintillating eyes.
He fired and sprang aside, while
the animal fell, struck the ground
. with a heavy thud, clawed the eartl
and air convulsively, for few sec
d onds, and then lay quite still. "Thi
|. is getting interesting" muttere'
!, Clyde, grimly cycling the two hug
(, tawny bodies, the dead dog, and tn
= skulking living ones, while h
! threw fresh wood upon the scatter
;, ed fire, and peered IN every direct
> ton.
3 "Meow! Meow! Sct-t-t"
d d He turned sharply, to see tn
d heads of two cubs thrust out of tn
l. hole near the tree, their ears lai
n close to their round heads and thei
q eyes sweeping the scene in fierce in
,s quiry. "Ha, ha! A regular famil
Z; party I've stumbled on" laughed
= Clyde. "S-s-s! Seek 'em, boysw
"a And the dogs pulled one kittel
,s out to his death, while the othe
e scrambled back in the hole. Sud
denly there was slight noise in tn
e. edge of the forest, and two half
grown panthers came cautiousl
into the circle Of the light, snifinI
Z the air uneasily and evidentl
s afraid of trap. The smell of tn
D scorched hair and the binding glar
8 Of the fire puzzled them.
$ But Clyde did not wait for ther
, to become satisfied Of the safety {
: an attack. He fired two shots
$ quick succession, killing one animt
D and badly wounding the othe
& which the dogs attacked at one,
$ When the short, sharp fight wa
D over one dog limped back to r.
\ ceive the praise of his maste
$ while the other lay dead beside h
, dead foe.
9 "You and | are alone now, BRAY
: my boy" said his master, pattin
D the dogs head. swell, when day
9 light comes we'll see after that Ii
s tie varmint in the hole"
! The night passed without furthe
: molestation, but Clyde kept the fiji
burning brightly while he busie
himself in SHINING three of til
panthers-the one which sprun
g into the fire being worthless. Tw
Of were monstrous brutes, male an
a. q, female, evidently the parents of tn
~ smaller pair as well as the kitten
f. After generous breakfast of roas
ed venison, he enlarged the hol
with pick and shovel, and after e,
aiming his revolvers, crept i
<. cautiously with lighted torcl
- mLua liz L..