The Portland daily press., 1900-05-23
wILDCAP STRATEGY.
The Clever Way in which the Animal
Outwitted . Pack OF Pursuing
Hounds.

from the Youths Companion.)
In many parts of Tennessee, hunting
wildcats is as popular as sport as the
fox chase. The wildcat is as tricky as
the fox. He has a still more dogged way
Of sticking to the thickest cover and the
most rugged ground, and when overtaken
will generally fight till he dies.
Some years ago witnessed wildca
perform an act Of cunning quite as re-
markable as any 1 have heard attributed
70 the fox. With six other young men l
was camped near the head waters Of
Buffalo Creek, not far from the Alabama
line, when we determined to try 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 occasionally small openings connected
by a few old roads which we could
traverse ON horseback. Only at the lower
end of this strip of woods were there any
caves or holes to which the WILDCATS
would be likely to retreat.
Our chase began on cloudy, drizzling
IN orning, a capital time for the hunt Tor
in such weather the game Is easily started
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
neighboring bluff on the river bank, or
as was more likely to dodge the hounds
by winding among the rocks ana then
doubling on their trail.
We had waited fully two hours when
we heard the distant cry Of hound, and
soon afterward full chorus OF the dogs:
They were coming toward our place OF
concealment, although as yet far off, and
10 Judge from their cry the trail was
growing hotter every moment. After
run of some twenty minutes the steady
having was succeeded by 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
for action and when the hounds We're
about a quarter of mile distant we
heard rustling among the bushes be-
tween ms and the dogs, a succession OF
light, springing leaps, and then an enor-
nous wildcat bounded into the clearing.
We should have fired, but that our curl
osity was reused by the eccentric move
ments of the creature. For an instant
he looked back 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 leaning chestnut tree, whlch, having
been blown down, had been broken oil
some forty feet from the root. The break
was seven or eight feet from the ground,
and the leaning trunk was pointing in
the direction from which the hounds
We're coming.
The eat ran quickly TO the upper end,
but instead of leaping off, as we expected,
he scrambled underneath the trunk, and
crawled out upon broken limb that pro
iected 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 flercely.
Pretty soon the dogs came up in full cry
on the trail. Three old hounds led the
pack, and these We're 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
sonoruus bay one right after the other.
Under the end of the log on the broken
limb still crouched the wildcat motionless
as stone except as he bent his fierce vel
low ewes 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 crouehed closer TO the limb. His
pursuers paused but for a moment ON the
log and then leaped TO the ground in
quick succession. After little confusion
i'm searching for the trail they started off
al 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 cautiously
Looked round and finding no enemies in
sight he sprang lightly TO the ground
and started TO make off another way. l
wished 10 reward the animals sagacity