The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-07
oUTw1rrED THE DOGS.
Clever Ruse of n Wild Cat Pursued
by Hounds.

| (From the Youths Companion)
In many parts of Tennessee hunting wild
cats is as popular sport as the fox chase
! The wild cat LIS as tricky as the fox He
has still more logged way of sticking
| to the thickest cover and the most rugged
| ground. and when once overtaken he will
| generally fight till he dies.
| Some years ago I witnessed a wild cat
perform an act OF cunning quite as re-
marfable as any / have heard attributed
to the f0x. With six other young men /
was camped near the heafwaters of Buffalo
Creek, not far from the Alabama line.
when we determined to try a wild cat
chase. and for that purpose went to a
| thickly wooded strip of country lying te-
tween the Buffalo and one of its tributary
streams IN the dense woods there are
occasional small openings connected with
| a few o!ds roads which we could traverse
on horseb back. Only at the lower end OF
this strip of woods were there any caves
or holes te which the wild cats would b.,
likely to retreat
Our chase began on a cloudy, drizzling
morning-a( capital time for the hunt. for
in such weatherathe game is easily started
and the tran is strong. Three of our party.
including myself took positions near the
junction OF THE two streams, in the edge
OF small space that was clear Of under
growth, hut 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 posi-
ton. either to take refuge in a neighhar-
ing bluff on the river bank or. as was more
likely, to dodge the hounds by winding
among the rocks and then doubling en-
their trail.
We had waited fully two hours when we
heard the distant cry of hound and
soon afterward full chorus of the do. s.
They were coming toward our place of
concealment, although as yet afar of, and,
to judge from their cry, the trail was
growing hotter every moment. After a
run Of some twenty minutes the steady
baying was succeeded by din of short,
sharp yelps and then we knew the rack
had sighted the game. We kept perfectly
quiet among the bushes. our guns ready
for action. and when the hounds were
about quarter Of a mile distant we heard
a rustlins among the bushes between us
and the dogs. succession of light, spring.
Ing leaps and then an elorC1ouS wild cat
bounded into the clearing
We should have fired bur our curiosity
was reused by the eccentric movements OF
the creature. For an instant he looked back
in the direction Of the hounds, then, max
ing several active springs to the left, he re-
turned to his trail and made as many
springs to the right. Then. turning, he
jumped upon the trunk of a leaning chest
nut 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 direction from which
the hounds were coming.
The cat ran quickly to the upper end, |
but instead of leaping of, as we ex-
pected, he scrambled underneath the trunk
and crawled out upon broken limb that |
projected 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 strik-
ing 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
vert with sonorous bay. one right after
the other.
Under the end of the log on the broken
limb still crouched the wild cat, motiouless
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 fore
most hound; still he did not move. but only
nearer to the limb. His pursuers
paused but for a moment on the log and
then leaped to the ground in quick success
sion. After a little confusion in searching ]
for the trail. they started off at full speed |
on the back trail and were soon some dis
lance from the place.
The cat did not move from his place I'M
I'll 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 ana started
To make off another way wished to re-
ward the animals sagacity by allowing II
IN e,cape unhurt but shot from one OF
the party stopped its course.