Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-03-08

time that he used with cruel effect his
hind claws.
Cant you shoot him?" Dan asked, in
a choked voice. I'D rather be killed by
your bullet than in this manner"
There was no time for hesitation. !
knew it was necessary to run some risk
of wounding Dan if would do anything
to save him, and l acted at once.
Throwing away my gun as useless,
I flung myself upon the combatants,
and it so CHANGED that just at that in
slant Dan was on top.
Lie firm, old fellow, cried, as |
forced him down by the chest with all
my strength, and made half dozen
lunges with my knife over his shoulder,
striking the cat every time, as | could
tell by the vicious snarling.
OF course, the animal used teeth and
claws desperately, and Dan could not
bear the pain many seconds.
Let me up" he cried.
And ! caught blindly at the cat as he
partially rolled over, succeeding in get
ting hold of the animals neck with my
left hand.
In this position, Dan on his knees
struggling to free himself from the
long, sharp claws, l thrust my knife
completely through the wildcats body
twice without striking vital part, anc
then it was that the animal released
Dan to devote all his attention to me.
Before l could shield my face, the cat
made vicious lunge with all four claws
laying open both my cheeks to the bone
and l plying my knife until l could not
believe there was an inch of the crea
lures body that my weapon had mo-
penetrated.
1t was when I was beginning to fancy
I would be obliged to give up the fight
so weak was l growing from loss o.
blood, that / heard a deafening report
saw long line of flame directly before
my eyes, and instantly felt that the ami
mails struggles were ceasing.
dimly understood that Dan had sho
the cat, and after that consciousness!
| left me.
When I realized anything more, thu
fire was burning brightly, and Dan wa
tearing his shirt and mine into strip
to be used as bandages, the blood from
his wounds saturating the cloth even a
he held it in his hands.
Until daylight we worked as best VI
could, caring for each other, and thei
came time when we both lay in hal
conscious state.
But as the Cay wore on, our scattered
senses returned until we could estimat
the damage done, although we were s.
weak that it was only after the mos
severe eXertiOns that we could rise t
our feet.
Dan had been badly bitten ant
clawed about the back of the neck
while my injuries were all about tn
face. and ! felt that | had great caus
for thankfulness because my eyes ha
not been touched.
We were as forlorn and ensanguine'
a pair as could have been found in tina
section of the country, and not man.
yards away lay the remains of mon
ster cat, with the upper part Of its hea
literally torn off.
Strange as it may seem, we never ono
thought Of our horse until we wer
strong enough to start for the neares
settlement, and then it was Dan VIII
made the alarming discovery that tn
animal was no longer in the vicinity.
He had probably broken his hattie
while we were fighting with the wildcat
and we had so much with which to oC
cupy our attention just then that w
had not heard him when he ran away
Our plight was indeed serious.
hardly seemed possible that we coul
walk five minutes, and yet it was nee
essary that we should tramp ten miles
ave mustn't sit here incoming owe
it." Dan said, with a very feeble al
tempt to look cheerful. "Our wound
must be dressed, and we've got to wal
back, so let's make the start"
We took from our traps sma
quantity of provisions, one gun and tw
blankets--which made pretty heay
load for two young fellows in our wea
condition-and set out.
That afternoon we managed to wal
about five miles, and then made cam
in a shallow cave or cavity in the ban
by the side of the road.
II was not until noon of the next da
that we arrived at the first dwelling
where the good woman and her hu'
band rebandaged our wounds.
After remaining there two days, dul
ing which time the farmer found on
horse dozen miles away across tn
country in a small settlement, W
started for home again, arriving in tim
to meet the other fellows who had take
part in the match.
Our side had won, even without on
assistance, but we didn't attend tn
dinner or join in the ride; we were bus
with private matters, such as lint, lin
ment and lotions.
Since then we have taken part in SCI
eral shooting matches, but we hay
never again made camp at night witt
J out keeping careful watch, even whe
we felt quite certain that there were
dangerous animals near.-Golden Day