The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-01-16
PRICE FIVE CENTS.

this here old muSket an his ize won't shine
up thar much longer, said our marksman.
Placing the gun barrel on the torchmans
shoulder, he took careful aim by the torch
light and fired. The shining eyes disap-
peared, but the eat did not fall. Soon how
ever, we heard something falling on the
leaves which our hunters declared to be
blood and 50 it proved to be. for in about
five minutes our game came tumbling down
and struck the ground heavily. All rushed
up to see what sort Of game we had. 1t
proved to be only Il medium sized cat. 1t
was the first one | had ever seen. lis
long, agile body was covered with n thick
coat Of yellow and white fur with now
and then black spot. The legs We're short
and heavy with large feet armed with long
and powerful claws. The head was large
and round like that of an ordinary house
eat. His bristling ''muStache added u
great deal to the look of fcrocty which
pclyaded his ratShip's features The
greatest diSsilniality / observed be-
tween a wildcat aud an ordinary house
eat or 'tahby cat as our hunters called
them, except in size. was the extreme brew
ity of the formers tail After laying our
cat the ski nbeinS all that is worth pre-
serving, the horn was blown ard off we
started again
The next trail We struck was after about
half an hour $ travel and the hounds dashed
away again. We followed rs fast as We
could, keeping up on the highest peaks as
Hitil Is btSNlDlN'. so as ~ htt1 NiRulli near
in- OF the bounds. Perhaps an hour passed
pefore they rrecdH again. This time it
proved to- be an immense catan0unt, which
is simply large species of the wildcat He
was rs large as an ordinary dog and had
q very thick coat of yellow fur, which was
spots and stripes. He had disdained to
climb moro than twenty feet. where he
sat defiautly growing and glaring at his
pursuer~. Our gunner again raised his
Al. a. Ia
catShip fell lifcleSs to the ground. As all
of us were weary we stopped and built
fire of some bruNhWooj. for at that altitude
the air becomes crisp towards morning
even at this season of the year. As the
fire cracked and Sputtcred many We're the
tales of former hunts and "reminiscences OF
how good hunting was 'bcfO the war, and
"bcfo' the railroad cum thro this kentry.
Just as dawn began to cast q gray cloak
over peak and glen we started TOR our
horses. and just AZ the ii1St rays OF the
morning sun painted the mountain tops
gorgeous red we were mounted and riding
at a brisk galiop toward clvl!lzaUon ran
columns of blue smoke were laZlly ascend
ing from the clay chimncyS Of the settlers
cabins, which told us That the morning
meals were being prepared by the house
wives in these lonely mountain S2il'ugeS.
As we passed IN occasional CABIN IN" door
wouId be hacked with dirty toW-headed.
but withal rudy and stronC chIidren' all
gazing at lis as II they hdd never seen any
one before in their lives. They paid, SSpe-
cjal attention to my ''store clothes and der
by hat. aud I could see the mother take an
occasional peep at us through Il rack
between the logs near the hreplacc. These
cabins were perched np in rich coVeS. gen;
tsa.4N n..,J "a ,.nl5Ie 81 ,ee Cot4 water a"a
fbo inhabitants seemed To have plenty OF
everything to satisfy their simple wants
and seemed to be perfectly happy
Away toward the north | notlced thln
column of blue smoke rising mp from be-
hind rugged peak and my companions
informed ne that it was the largest moon
shine still in the region owned by q broth
or Of the famorS Major Redmond. And
tI,ov assured me that they would @Le M.
along some time if I stayed in their beat
Tbc air was DELIGHTFULLY."- cool aud in
vinorating and the feeling was one not 70
be- soon forgotten. the dry. cool air The
singing birds the tinkling. of bells as the
cattle started ont again for the day the
farmers singing sayly at their work. the
cooling of the dove and the meiodlouS notes
Of the robin. NIL were there TO remind one
That spring was here. Nature had on her
bridal robes: the peeping violeIs, me, ira
Grant wild honey sucIe and the budding
cbnstnnts all aided III making the impression
on one not to be quickly foreott"n; ..-.--.-
JAMES MASSEY.