The National tribune., 1900-03-01
By PROF. WIN. J. DEWS.

The great North Mountain Range of
Virginia. the dividing line betu EN- Nir-
ginia and West Virginia. and palt cularly
that region north of the Bald Mountain,
contains some unique and weird natural
wonders. There aEe found in their match
less beauty. purling and musical mountain
brooks and streams. grand, wild, rocky
gorges, wonderful groups of mountain
laurel, the famous flats, and monster oaks
with their hundred arms. and grand can
yonS, bedecked with thousands of many
hued flowers and thick, tangled shrubbcry.
where rest the graceful deer and lurk the
ugly. uncouth black bear, and the alert,
cunning and vicious mountain lion.
AT times these mountain lions are OK
tremely bold and fierce. | recall the ex-
perience of Miss Martha Todd. of White
Oak Lick" in this connection. Miss
Martha had occasion TO ride over the North
Mountain by what is known as the Pendlc-
ton County Road to visit friends in Pendle-
ton County. Returning Just before twi
light, while making the descent 10 the east
side of the mountain towards her fathers
house at White Oak Lick, a sudden, cat
like cry some so yards in front of her at
tracted her attention.
Knowing full well the meaning of that
terrible cry, having been familiar with it
from childhood. she Immediately deter
mined TO dash past the threatened danger
and trust TO the tieetncss of her little white
horse. The horse seemed to feel his danger
on his neck and told him TO go" he went
like the wind; but the mountain lion sprang i
with n blood-curdling cry full at the horse
and its rider. Martha had drawn her I
revolver, holding ii with her left hand, |
while guiding the little horse with her |
right, as he few along the mountain road |
towards home. The lion missed the horse
and rider, falling yard or two to the rear.
Martha fired one shot at the lion. and then
commenced the wi Id race down the mountain |
road for nearly four miles, the lion with |
his long leaps keeping from 10 to 40 feet
from the horse and rider.
Once the lion with Il mighty spring |
came within Il few feet Of the horses legs,
when Martha, with a coolneSs and pre-
cision characteristic of the Todd family, |
fired on the animal again, slightly wound,
ing him, though the horse was on the full /
run. The lion with a fearful cry again
bounded after his intended fair victim. and
despite the best efforts of the little horse,
aided by the encouraging words of its
mistress, the lion, bleeding somewhat, |
rapidly gained on the fleeing horse and |
rider.
At this moment the little horse showed |
signs of distress, and Martha admitted after |
wards that for a second or two she eX-
perienced slight feeling Of uneasiucss, |
but lust then the pretty little North River, |
on the edge of the settlement, appeared |
nview. Welcome sight.
Another minute and the little horse |
with a last supreme effort bounded over the
little stream; the lion also cleared the creek
with one leap and Immediately closed
upon horse and rider. Martha dashed |
up TO her fathers house and passed through |
the open gate to the very door with the lion
at the horses heels.
Uncle Jimmy and his son Sam, hear
ing the clattering of hoofs, sprang with
their rifles 10 the yard just as Martha, horse |
and lion turned in the open gate. |
Taking in the situation at a glance,
TTncle Jimmy" and Sam endeavOred to
draw bead on the lion. but that willy
beast lodged and crouched behind the horse
as Martha sprang- from the saddle, then
turned in rapid, fight and sprang into a
thicket near the gate just as the Todds
fired. The beast was tracked a short