Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-03-28

! around my camp. In this promenade
| 1t came upon something which it in
| vestigated with loud shifts, and which
/ afterward ascertained to have been
| the hour-sack. In q moment more I
| heard the strong cloth go r-r-r-p.
Next it lighted upon the sugar-bag,
and | Immediately heard a piggish
| sound of feeding.
This action of the beast affected me
with an amazing sense of relief; it was
so very natural, so very bearish. The
gloom and impressiveness of the sur
| roundlngs, and the dramatic effect and
mystery of the animals appearance,
had strangely worked upon me; but
this awe began to be replaced by the
hunters instinct; besides, / was en-
ragged at the destruction Of our price,
less supplies. But presently both these
emotions were blotted out by the in
tense cold. I cannot even attempt to
convey to a Southerner how cold it
was. The air seemed fairly to cracl1le
with the frost. The wind had gone
down; SO had the moon; and the silence
in that CHASTITY desert was like death
itself, and death knew it would be if
remained long motionless in that tenn
perature without fire.
But my fire was in the possession
OF the adversary, and so were my
Matches and, worst of all, my rifle. In
spite of my numerous wrappings, I
began to shiver, partly with cold and
partly with excitement, as I tried to
think OF some plan for circumventing
the beast, which was still guzzling it's
Or rather our-sweets
If could only get the brute away
long enough for me to get my Win
chester and put on my snowshoes, I
would have it at q disadvantage in the
deep snow. But at present I had little
doubt that it could move with much
more facility than 1 could. Thus I
felt natural reluctance to attract it's
attention, and at the same time I had
10 idea that it would return to it's
cave. [ did not wish it to do this, in
fact. for became determined to solve
the mystery while had the opportuni-
ty, since l had no doubt that this crea-
ture was the Indians legendary terror.
Several minutes passed While con-
sidered the situation and grew numb.
Finally I disengaged myself from
steeping-bag and blankets, and waded
up close to the edge of the trampled
camp-space.- The animal ceased. It's
operations at my approach, and
bristled up, standing tensely on guard
and snarling viciously. In desperate
resolution, packed a large SNOWFALL
as we'll as I could from the dry snow,
and threw it at the animal. The snow
bit the animal on the ear.
With savage roar it rushed at me.
The moment it left the camp it
plunged over it's back. and foundered
aside from it's charge. In the instant
thus gained I struggled into the camp,
and had time to seize the gun and to
draw it from it's buckskin cover before
the beast turned. The plunge into the
light snow seemed to bewilder it for
second. It wheeled, however, and
made at me, coming through the drifts
like a snow-plow; and as it came 1
shot full at it's breast
fame. and crashing report that min
sled with a coughing roar. Through
the smoke hazily perceived the brute
still plunging toward me, blood
streaming down it's chest and shoul-
ders, and it's little wicked eyes fairly
blazing in the gloom. I fired again as
it came on, and leaped aside to avoid
the rush. It went blindly past me for
a few feet, and then dropped, bleeding
profusely, upon the snow.
1t lay quite still for a few moments,
and I approached the possible corpse
with considerable circumspection. At
o range Of ten feet fred again, aim
ing at the fatal spot at the base of the
ear; but my hand shook as pulled.
The shot acted like magic At the
report, the animal sprang bodily into
the air, horrible with extended claws
and wide, CORY jaws. Blood and snow
fell in every direction. Without know
ing how it happened, I found myself
plunging into the snow again with
huge strides, frantically wrenching at
the lever Of my rifle, which had for
back the foe had not followed It had
started, as if dazed, in the opposite di-
rection, and was plowing through the
snow, leaving trail as if a team of
horses had passed.
I fastened to put on my snowshoes
and follow; but in the few moments
thus lost the beast gained several rods,
and was already out Of sight in the
glooom. I had some idea Of what was
going to happen, and shuf1ed over the
snow at run. When / had the ami
NAL in view again, it was near the
precipice, and still charging blindly
forward. I fired twice without stop
ping it or making it turn, and in an
other instant over it went. I heard a
dull thump as it's body struck some
projecting crag, and then there was
silence. might listen long before
would hear the sound Of it's fall from
the bottom of that deep abyss.
The mystery had eluded me to the
last.
Tunis, the famous black horse which
General BoulaDger rode in the me1nor
/ oh =