Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-05-05

nights in a little 'leanto' shelter made
of poles and brush.
Zone night, after we had muncheh
our bread and bacon, warmed over the
open fire before the little camp, and
were getting ready to crawl under the
blankets for a nights sleep, there
came, from away over the side hill to-
ward the northeast, peculiar cry, or
yell, that Immediately seized the at
tention of both Of us.
'S'pose it was a bear?' said George.
You know they can make a mighty
mean noise sometimes, and it is about
the time they come out of their dens,
good and hungry, and plotting cussed-
ness
Then, as the yells, gradually chang
ing the position from which they came,
seemed to be drawing nearer, we hus
tied about to replenish the fire and col
lect a good quantity of wood to last
through the night. For, though we
were both of us perfectly accustomed
| to sleeping in the woods,and had never
| in ali our lives, up to that time, either
seen or heard anything alarming in
| the wild animals that lived in the
| Franklin county woods, yet there was
| something in that yell that frightened
us both, though of course neither would
| acknowledge it.
1T is II years ago, but 1 can remem-
| Der just how 1 felt as the darkness fell,
the little clearing lost its outlines, as
| the light faded, and those miserable.
iad1scribable shrieks kept coming
nearer and nearer, every new one full
of a keener horror than the one be-
fore There was suggestion Of some
thing suffering pain and hunger, an
expression of hopeless longing that
went to the very bottom of ones feel
ings, and mixed oddly with the grow
ing certainty that the noises came
from a great panther which was ap-
preaching US.
"Our armament was not extensive,
consisting of our axes and my old
double barreled shotgun. There were
no bullets, of course, nothing but The
fine birdshot in the cartridges, and
this was obviously of small conse-
ouence in dealing with a large ami
NAL
1.-THE noise stopped and 1 suggested
that George turn in while I kept
watch. George went to sleep and sat
on log near the fire and watched ii;
moon slowly sinking, the sparks from
the fire drifting away in a light breeze
and heard the purr and trickle of {
little brook few rods in front of the
camp, and the rustic of the leaves or
the trees that came close up behind
our shack for we were on the very
edge of the clearing. 1t had been more
than two hours since the beast haC
| stopped his noice. and 1 was getting
| drowsy and about ready to turn il
| myself. when close behind US. so nea
and sharp that it fairly made my hal
, | bristle, came that rasping screecl
again. This time it seemed as If
could hear a gurgling sort of gas
after the yell was finished, as the ami
NAL took a quick breath. The moor
had set and George was quite in tt
dark till he came out into the circl
, of light, reused instantly from hi
sleep. I was struck by the ghastl
s pallor Of his face. as he no doubt wa
by mine if he took time to notice ii
4 He ran to get his axe, stuck in 10
close by, and took up the gun and W
both stood in front of the FIRE an
= waited for something to happen.
"a few more of those yells. each on
Z seemingly a little nearer. and ! coul
endure it NJ longer. Plueking up