The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-09-17

lOWed.E Inc SANTA ROSA MOuuJdlus al
/ rough riding, but the hunters wer'
mounted on native ponies which go NJ
apparently impossible inclines ant
jump off cliffs six feet high on to rocR
lodges. with. the agility and carefulnesf
Of the goat.
The trail led over a low range and
down into another valley, where Il
turned south for mile and half to q
branch of the Sacramento, where the
! cougar had slaked his thirst. He had
crossed the stream on a fallen tree
and gone into the hills. A little after
this he must have heard the dogs, be-
| cause 500 yards from the creek his
trail changed from the even footmarks
of an unhurried quarry to the long
shutting trot of his kind, and then to
bounds. Here the dogs left the 1len.
The country was such that rapid riding
was impossible. Only ''Viejo" spurred
after the bowling pack, which, with
Alisan at it's head, poured in varie-
gated torrent through the hills.
In little while an increased clamor
was borne back to them. Pressing on
as boldly as they dared, they found
the huntsman in the midst of his fren-
zied hounds at the edge of a small
forest Of pecans, which grew in a de-
preston like the bottom of bowl. So
deep was 1t that the tops Of the tall
trees did not reach to tie summit of
the ridges around them. "Viejo" said
that the cougar, of which he had
caught a glimpse, had gone up one
of the trees. 1t was the Gray Devil.
Indeed, the marks of his claws were
plain on the massive trunk, but he was
nowhere to be seen. 1t was found af-
terward that he had leaped from this
tree to another, then to another, had
gone down on the far side, and was
once more speeding to the south The
chase was resumed, but fifteen minutes
had been lost in picking up the trial.
Clambering over the Top of the bowl,
with the dogs going belly to the
ground, the chase ran swiftly and
steadily for two miles. Here the horse
men were delayed for a moment in
skirting the edge of a narrow marsh
and the pack opened a gap of SOC
yards. At this time the throng was
going with the speed Of a whirlwind.
Close at their tales was "Viejo," who
had risked laundering in the morass,
and good thirty feet in their front,
utterly mute, sailed the big beef dog.
A quarter of mile further on they
ran into the cougar. A sheer cliff, if
ty feet high, stretched across the mar
row valley and barred egress. At its
base huge boulder mad been detached
and left semi-cavern in it's side. This |
depression was five feet deep and at
least three yards high and wide. |
At its back, his eyes green with anger
and his lips still bloody from his
breakfast, crouched Ell Diablo Tordillo
facing his pursuers. Not
pausing in his rush nor swerving
hairs breadth to either side the great
beef dog sprang for the nose hold
He struck his opponent fairly, but a
little low, and the inch-long fangs came
down with a snap and were buried in
MS brain, driving through the skull as
4 1t were paper. A mighty blow from
he forearm hurled the carcass aside
md the other hounds streamed upon
him.
He was down in an instant buried
hree feet under a cascade of dog but
lis rounded back rose steadily like an
sland through the tide of them. and
n another instant two of his foemen
we're dead before him, and the snace
vas clear, Not a sound passed before
lie was reburied. Such was his giant
trength that twice he-hroke his blan-
let OF enemies and leaped straight ia
he summit of the cave, each time
ound clinging to his flank and going
p with him. 1t was impossible for
ne men to shoot without killing a half
oxen OF the dogs, nor was there room
Or them in the narrow space in which
ne bitter fight was fought, even If
hey had wished to enter. Five n,
ne hounds had been disabled and one
Their slain by bite through the back /
one when "Viejo," maddened bv the
eath OF the beef dog, sprang from his I
orse' drew his knife and plunged in '
, the fray.
Inc animal was then borne back TO
lie wall OF the recess, half upright I
I'D blood streaming from a score Of !
ounus' With one straight down-driv-
stroke the Mexican plunged the
ade to the hilt in his breast II
aned forward, doubling convulsivelv .
ID struck at him with all the force b
the gigantic muscles of his right b
repaw. The blow landed on the Ioat Il
de of his neck. cut tbroraL 80 q