The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-20

was camped near the head waters of Buff
falo creek, not far from tho Alabama
line, when We determined to try a wild
cat chase, and for that purpose went to
a thickly wooded strip of country lying
between the Buffalo and one of its tribu-
tary streams. In the dense woods there
are occasional small openings connected
by few old roads which we could ira
verse on horseback. Only at the lower
end of this strip of woods were there any
caves or holes to which the wild cats
would be likely to retreat.
Our chase began on a cloudy, drizzjng
morning. capital time for the hunt, for
in such weather the game is easily start
ed 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 taller 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 neigh
boring bluff on the river bank, or as was
more likely, TO dodge the hounds by wind
ing among the rocks, and then doubling
on their trail
We had waited fully two hours when we
heard the distant cry of a hound, and soon
afterward a full chorus of the dogs. They
were coming toward our place of conceal
ment, although as yet far off, and to judge
from their cries, the trail was growing
hotter every moment. After a run of some
twenty minutes the steady baying was
succeeded by the 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 fer action and
when the hounds were almost a quarter of
a mile distant we heard a rustling among
the bushes between us and the dogs, a
succession of light, spriuging leaps, and
A. 1n1 .Krt
the clearing.
We should have fired but that our Gu
riosity was reused by the eccentric move
nlents of the creature. For an instant he
looked hack 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
he jumped upon the trunk of a leaning
chestnut tree which, having been blown
down, had been broken off at some forty
feet from the root. The break was seven
or eight feet from the ground, and the
leaning trunk was pointing in the direc-
ton from which the hounds were coming.
The cat ran quickly to the upper end,
but instead of leaping off, as We expected,
he scrambled underneath the trunk, and
crawled out upon a broken limb that pro-
jected two or three feet from the lower
side. Here he sat, close crouched, with
his short ears thrown back and his great
yellow eyes glaring fiercely.
Pretty soon the dogs came up in full
cry on the trail. Three old hounds led
the pack, and these were little puzzled
when they came to where the cat had
turned aside. The other hounds, most of
them being young, scattered over the
open place, all the while baying Justify,
but without striking the trail at all The
leaders, having made several starts in
different directions, finally struck the
trail, and were forthwith 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 broken
limb still crouched the wildcat; motion
less as stone, except as he bent his 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 only crouched closer to the
limb. His pursuers paused but for a mo-
nent on the log, and then leaped to the
ground in quick succession After lit
tie confusion in searching for the trail.
they started off 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 well out of sight.
Then raising his head, he caustiously look
ed round, end. finding no enemies in sight,
he sprang lightly to the ground and start
ed to make off another way. 1 wished
to reward the animals sagaclty by OIL
lowing 1t to escape unhurt, but a sfot
from one of the party stopped its course.