The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-23

Warm Reception Which n wildcat
Intruder Met in n Northern Camp.
From Forest and Stream.

From Forest and Stream.
Tired, The word does not express my
condition. and it is dark. and the m or
will not be up until o'clock. Allen and I
roll up in blankets and are asleep almost
as soon as We touch the floor. No de-
scrip,on can be given of the camp and
its surroundings until morning, it Is
now pitch dark. except for the light from
our lantern. and our physical condition is
at TOO low eDb 10 permit even the mind
TO flow freely.
Some magnetic influence caused me to
open my eyes after sleeping. as ! then
thought all the night through. I 10 oked
around. il seemed to be light as day. but
soon recognized the effect OF wonderful
~ clear atmosphere and a full moon. on,
how distict everything looked!
But bark, What is that noise? Purring
now loud now sort sounds like the graf
ing of a miniature milestone grinding big
leaves. / turn over gently TO get a fair
look a. the third window and Heaven help
me- What is that huge. terrible monster
sitting in the window hole? 4 panther a
grizzly, 4 mountain lion? l acknowledge
frankly I was thoroughly frightened for a
few minutes. Eyes a greenish yellow
shining like burning brimsto2e, sitting As
the monster was in the opening, with tn
mellow, clear moonlight for a background,
his size and devilish outlines were en-
HANGED manifold both by the conditions
of the setting and atmosphere, as well
by my most agitated mind. In a few
minutes il dawned upon me that | had
nothing more fierce to face than a North
ern wildcat. The brute locked savage,
with his wicked orbs cleaning viciously
down on US. but knowing him and his pc
culiariues, l knew there was nothing TO
fear.
MY revolver was lying in my hat by my
side Graspng it, 1 gave Allen several
sound nudges in the ribs. He awoke, AMI
then l whispered:
Don't move. Ed. Lcok at the window
TO your right"
He looked and continued looking. l was
frightened. Allen was more so. He was
speechless. and 1 was heartlessly cruel
ED. that's panther, and I'm afraid
we're in for it; the devil is evidently nun
CRY and m going TO try a shot at MN
If l miss YOU roll yourself in your blank
cts and let me fight il out. He Will not
attack but one. We both have families,
but OH Ed. look after my wife and chi-
dren Oh. Lord Why did l ever come
here and cause you to run your head In
this death trap"
l gurglcd several gurgles in imitation o
fearful despair, and Allen still remained
speechess Slowly l took aim with my
revolver. until the barrel covered the body
of the cat l had a perfect sight, thank
to the moon: | pressed the trigger, heat-
ening report, and then two ear-splitying
yeus-one from the cat the other from
Allen.
To this day am unable to state which
was the louder but l give Allen the bene-
fit of the doubt He had so thoroughly
taken my advice that when l tried 20 I'M
roll him from his blankets. he evidently
thought the panther had lunched off me.
and was after him for dessert He kicked
and squirmed, but at last he was quiet
long enough to hear me speak to him, ana
then uncovering himself he leaned on MS
elbow and hoarsely whispered:
"Old man, old man. are you badly hurt!
Is the panther gomez
NV emotions forbade my speaking, and
Allen MISLEADING my commissions Tor
spasms of pain, like a true hero, regard
less of the probable presence OF the pan
Their Jumped TO his feet and came to me-
turned me over on my back and seeing my
uncomfortable commissions of laughter IN
stantly regained his sang froid, and calm
ly said:
Say. you're very smart, mister. but l
knew il wasn't a panther al the time
Anv fool could tell 1t was bear.
And then | began anew, until AHeh
onened his Walls of wrath and gave me
such a shower bath of the most punseht
English that soon began to cover up.
Did YOU hit the cat?'
7 acknowledged hadn't gone outside the
shack to see. -.
We went. and about thirty yards from
the window we found the cat-a male, anu
giant. stone, stark dead.
Allen claims that he didn't sleep another
minute that night.