The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-06-20
A CUNNING WILDCAT.
HE PROVED HIMSELF TO BE AS
TRICKY AS ANY FOX.

The Clever Way I'm which He Out
witted n Pack OF Hounds Fairly
Entitled Him to HIS Freedom, but
He Failed to Win 1t After AL.
In many parts of Tennessee hunting
wildcats is as popular n sport as the
fox chase. The wildcat is as tricky
as the fox. He has still more dogged
way of sticking to the thickcst cover
and the most rugged ground, and wien
once overtaken he Will generally eight
till he dies.
Some years ago 1 witnessed wild
cat perform an act Of cumming quite as
remarkable rs any have heard attrlb-
uted to the fox. With six other young
men l was campcd near the hcndwa-
tcrs of Buffalo creek, not far from the
Alabama line, when We determined to
try wildcat chase and for that pur-
pose went to thickly wooded strip Of
country lying between the Buffalo and
one of its tributary streams. II tho
dense woods there arc occasional small
openings connected by few Old reads
which we could traverse OH horseback.
Only at the lower end Of this strip OF
woods were there any caves or holes to
which the wildcats would bc likely to
retreat.
Our chase began on cloudy, driz-
zling morning, n capital time for the
hunt, FOR i'll such weather the game is
easily started and the trail Is strong.
Three Of our party, including myself,
took positions near the junction Of the
two streams In the edge Of a small
space that was clear of underground,
but set with smaller trees. The other
four, taking the dogs. went some two
miles up the river to start the game,
which would probably pass near our
position, either to take refuge in q
ne'ghboring bluff on the river bank or,
as was more likely, to dodge the hounds
by winding among the rocks and then
doubling on their trail.
We had waited fully two hours, when
we heard the distinct cry Of n hound
and soon afterward full chorus of the
dogs. They were coming toward our
place Of concealment, although as yet
far off. and to judge from their cry
the trail was growing hotter every mo-
ment. After a run Of some 20 minutes
the steady baying was succeeded by n
din of short, sharp yelps, and then we
knew the pack had sighted the game.
We kept perfectly quiet among the
bushes, our guns ready for action, and
when the hounds were about quarter
Of mile distant we heard q rustling
among the bushes between us and the
dogs. succession Of light, springing
leaps, and then an enormous wildcat
bounded into the clearing.
We should have fired but that our
curiosity was reused by the eccentric
movements Of the creature. For m
instant he looked back in the direction
Of the hounds; then, making several
active springs to the left, he returned
to his trail and made as many springs
to the right. Then turning lie jumped
upon the trunk Of leaning chestnut
tree which, having been blown down.
had been broken off ut some 40 feet
from the root. The break was seven or
eight feet from the ground, and the
leaning trunk vas pointing in the di-
rection from which the hounds were
coming.
The cat ran quickly to the upper end.
but instead Of leaping off, as we ex-
pected, he scrambled underneath, the
trunk and crawled out upon broken
nmD that projected two or three feet
from the lower side. Here he SAL.
close crouched. with his great yellow
eyes glaring f1ercely.
Pretty soon the dogs came up in full
cry on the trail. Three old hounds led
the pack. and these were O. little puz-
zied when they came to where the cat
mad turned aside. The other hounda
most OF them being young, scattered
over the open place, all the while bav-
Ing Justify. but without striking the
uail et az: The leaders. haYing made
several starts In different directions
finally struck the trail and were forth.
with Joined by the others. Up the
trunk they went with sonorous bay
one right after the other.
Under the end Of the log on the bro.
Ken limb still crouched the wildcat.
motionless as stone. except as he bent
aas fierce yellow eyes around him and
moved his short tail slowly from side
to side. Only the thickness of the LOG
was between him and the foremost
hound. Still he did not move, but on
~ crouched closer to the limD. His
pursuers paused but for q moment on
the log and then leaped to the ground
IN quick succession. After little con-
fusion In searching for the trail they
started of at full speed on the back
track and were soon some distance
from the place.
The cat did not move from his place
until the hounds were we'll out of
sight. Then, raising his head, he eau
tously looked round, and, finding no
enemies in sight, he sprang lightly to
the ground and started to make Off
another way. I wished to reward the
animals sagacity by allowing it to ~es-
cape unhurt, but shot from one Of
the party stopped its course.-Youth's
Companion.
Broke Her Name I'm Two.
The aOcfpfv rnnorfar 10 - <5on-