Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-09-28
- z.3|& IS
The Cone Mount Captive.

come bounding along the ledge.
1t was too late for me to stay at the
cave level. fell at arms length.
How | feared the stick would give
way with my weight! But 1t held,
and l scrambled back, the LINK jump
ing at me and screaming as pulled
myself up into the cave.
Tried the same plan several times,
although did not again drop to arms
length, but the moment | made the
least noise the lynx came bounding
back. suspected him Of deliberately
concealing himself in order to tempt
me to drop, but he had not enough
self-contrOl or else was too stupid to
wait long enough for his stratagcm
to succeed.
1t was getting clear to me now that
If intended to get out of there before
dark it must be done in some other
way, and soon. for the sun was al.
ready low.
l looked up and down the bare wall
of rock. 1t offered no hope. But just
as l turned away a plaintive little
meouw walled out from behind me,
and like flash new idea came.
Why had | not thought Of 1t before ?
l had merely to lower or toss the kit
ten to its parent, when of course the
ledge would be vacated.
But again l was doomed to disap-
pointment. The cave roof dropped in
ward rapidly, and ended in a sort Of
crevice, and the cub had gone back
into that. There 1t crouched in a
place barely six inches high, and the
little creature was a foot beyond the
reach Of my moose. tried to dislodge
1t by bOmbardment of dust and
other refuse, but there 1t stayed, blink
ing and cringing in frightened little
the heart to worry 1t, left it to itself.
When l resumed my place at the
mouth Of the cave the sun had set,
but l could see new cause for fear
down on the ledge. Instead of one
big lynx there were now two-the mate
of the first had come home!
Certainly l had Numbered into n
neat trap. l could hope for no human
aid in that lonely spot, and there were
none at home to miss me and look me
up.
However, took out my pipe, say
Ing to myself, while We live, let us
live" Sooner or later the brutes would
have to go away for food and water
then would come my chance. And as
night was their natural hunting time
this thought gave me comfort.
But hour after hour passed. and l
smoked pipe after pipe; and whenever
l looked down at the ledge 1t was al
ways either to look into pair of
glowing spots and sometimes two
pairs, shining up through the darkness
or to be greeted with low, threaten
ing growl from somewhere in the
bushes below.
began to realize what 1t meant to
be hungry and thirsty and my horse
was tied up down there alone. l Won
dered where l should find him If he
broke loose. Once, when the wolves
were making a fuss somewhere in the
distance sickenng fear seized me
my six calves We're shut up in the cor
raj at home!
All the time the coarse rock under
me grew harder and harder, until my
legs and thighs We're numb. At last,
could l have been certain of having
but one of the cats to face. l believe
should have dropped down and
taken my chance on the narrow ledge
| In the dark.
You can guess, then, how I felt
when. just as the moon was rising l
caught sight of an object moving
long yOnder high ridge two or three
hundred yards east Of the hill.
then kept three large hounds, and in
the dim light this object looked like
one of them. l whstled shrilly at the
chance, but when the creature became
exactly outlined 1t dropped on Its
launches and Knocked me with the
doleful howl of q coyote. Then all
was still again.
Finally l firmly resolved to end my
torture by hand-to- hand fight in the
morning If should find the lynxes
still on guard. Then l stretched my
self along the rocky floor and fell
| asleep. 1t never occurred to me that
the lynx kitten might attack my throat
or that the parent beasts might find
some means Of helping one another up
from the ledge to the cave.
When awoke the sun was an hour
high. About the first thing did was
to look for the cub. 1t was still crouch
ing in the crevice. Therefore l was
yet prisoner-prisoner to a pair Of
bobtailed cats!
But perhaps was not. glanced
at the ledge. 1t was empty. My hopes
had scarcely risen, however. before
one of the old lynxes appeared, bring
ing dead rabbit-the Kittens break
fast! When 1t reached the spot where
the tree had stood 1t dropped the rab-
bit and ran about, shifting and calling
In great distress. Then suddenly, as
II remembering what had occurred. 1t
turned around. bristling all over, and
glaring up at me, utter long low
growl-a direct challenge.
AS this lynx had been away hunt
ing probably the other was still on a
similar errand. had therefore lost
an opportunity to escape. Another
day might pass before got the chance
again. This prospect was unbearable.
So decided to 60 down and fight be-
fore the other lynx should appear.
My plan was simple enough. I
would watch my chance, drop when
the lynx should be farthest down thu
ledge, and by quick rush attempt 10
hurl him over the edge.
Keeping my eyes on him took out
my knife and began whetting 1t along
the leg Of my calfskin snaps. The big
blade was broken. so that the longest
one left measured only two inches.