Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1900-05-03

nights in a little 'leanto' shelter made
of poles and brush.
"One 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 bear?' said George.
You know they can make a mighty
mean noise sometimes, and it is about
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 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 all 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 IL years ago, but can remem-
| Der just how l felt as the darkness fell,
| the little clearing lost it's outlines, as
the light faded, and those miserable,
| i1Gcscribable 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 u.s.
"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, ana
this was obviously of small conse-
| quence in dealing with a large ami
| NAL.
"The noise stopped and 1 suggested
that George turn in while 1 KEEP
watch. George went to sleep and I sal
on a log near the fire and watched I'll;
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 hat
| stopped his noice. and 1 was gettins
drowsy and about ready to turn il
myself, when close behind US, so neal
| and sharp that it fairly made my hail
bristle, came that rasping screecl
| again. This time it seemed as If
could hear gurgling sort of gasI
after the yell was finished, as the ami
NAL took 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. 1 was struck by the ghastl!
pallor of his face. as he no doubt wa
by mine. if he took time to notice it
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 ant
waited for something to happen.
"a few more Of those yells, each on,
seemingly little nearer. and coult
endure it no longer. Plucking up {