Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-06-09

~ .7ss - S-sT
the clear space whore we left the
horses and mule, when the repo OFT Of
Barney.i big smoothDore rang out
like that of a six-poander, an? aext
moment he yelled /: Ia \.
aHelpl There's, j ooup'o Of muth-
erin's basthes s,,eakin' ontil me, an
me guns Imply"
"The lions I" cried Carson, as we
rushed out into the open glade, to
see the horses straining frantically
on their lariots. the mule trotting
homeward, and Barney covering in
abjeot terror, crossing himself and
moaning.
We could Sec no cause for his
alarm. .-..
"But where are the lions, garney2"
was asked.
"SorrG wan av mo knows, sor. But
they was beyant thin bushes whin
ould jack got soight Nv thin, wavin'
their tails an liokin' their chops loike
they'd ate him, whole all tho toim it
was mesilf they was afthcr, because
Ord gev thin weeny sprinklin av
shot," ...
"Look out there !" called Carson ;
"they are running under cover after
the mule" pointing to tremendous
and swiftly advancing line of motion
among tho waysido bushes.
Untying the horses, wo sprang to
saddle and were off in hot pursuit,
but too late to save Jack; for, with.
out having been previously seen by
us, the two lions broke cover, and,
one at his throat and one Mt his
flank, pulled the beast down while
wo wore fifty yards away.
"lIold up" said Carson "the mis-
chiefs done. Let thcm settle down
on their prey. Too much brush in
the way to make sure shot"
So for minute or two we sat
quiet in our saddle, watching the
brutes until they became wholly pre-
occupied with their feast. Then wc
rode forward to within twenty five
yards.
"Now," whispered Carson, "you
take the one on the right, and I'll
drop tho other"
At the simultaneous crack Of our
rifles the cougar fired at by Carson,
the male, stretched itself out in
death with scarcely CULVER; but as
[ afterward found, the elevating leaf
of my rifles back sight had got
raised, and [ entirely ovcrshot my
mark. Thereupon, the surviving
cougar, maddened by the taste of
blood, or by the loss of her mate,
uttered a human-like scream and
came to me- in prodigicws leaps, The
fourth of which would have brought
her to my throat. But that leap was
never completed, for while the crca-
turc was in midair, Carson fired two
revolver shots quick as lightning,
and she dropped, dying at my horses
feet, both bullets having struck the
very center Of her chest.
GA rather neat performance" I
said. "Id hardly got my own pistol
out Of the holster"
ooh, that's nothing" said Carson
"practicc makes perfect. l oughtn't
to have taken the shot from you, but
there was no time to lose, as the
brute might have hurt your horse"
Barney, painting and blowing like a
standard grampus now came up on
tho run, and was sent off by Carson
after the bcarskin.
After skinning the cougars We sci
off for home, regulating our pace to
Barncy's speed in walking. Poor
Barney did not long remain a green
horn. Soon the old smoothborc gave
place to rifle, and, tutorcd by his
employer, he became a skilful huntc,
as well as a fearless Indian fighter
lie died while trying to save his mas
tor's property. Carson himself told
me the story about two years aftc,
our hunt. lie had sent Barney out
in charge of large flock of sheep
destined for the California market.
On the way Barney and his fellow
herdsman were attacked by strong
band of rowing Indians, who, after a
long battle, slaughtered all but one of
the men. This one, getting back to
the ranch, told him that Barney, after
his ammunition was gone, had contin-
ucd to fight like tiger, and with
his heavy rifle had killed III hand
to-hand combat six of the savancs
before he fell.
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Sacrificed tn