The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-11-05
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The Gone Mount Captive.

watching them with delight from the
VALLEY on the south side. when the
English settler an "old timer" who
nyas riding the range with me. advised
ime to beware of the birds. They had
brought him into n strange pre-
dicament once AS he and l looked
mp at the precipice of the south side
of Cone Mount he began the story.
1T was during the summer of 1886.
gust three years after l came out here.
q was very young and rather reckless.
Only few settlers were in this part
Hhen, and as l had only small bunch
OF cattle was alone. had been rid
Ding the range one day, and was return
ing In the afternoon, when saw those
eagles lowering over it's crest. as I
had seen them hundred times before
the very same pair we see now, [
believe.
Well, l wanted to find their nest. 1t
would not be dark for three or four
hours, and as i was on the north side
OF the hill 1 could ride some distance
toward the summit. So up l went.
About half way from bottom to top 1
tied my horse to a tree and finished the
climb on foot
1 lay face down, looking over the
edge of the cliff for several minutes.
closely scanning It's steep side. with
out seeing anything OF the eagles nest.
Then heard something very different
from any noise an eagle ever makes.
1T was n queer little wall. mun1ed and
catlike, which seemed to come from
somewhere near me.
L glanced along the halfway ledge
below, and then down among the
rocks and bushes at the bottom. but
could see nothing. But soon the cry
was repeated, this time much clearer.
and at once l caught sight of a small
yellowiSh object protruding from the
lace OF the rock wall itself. not thirty
feet below me. L had no trouble in
making out n pair of pointed black
npped ears on the head of what I
knew must be n lynx cub. The little
creature was standing in the mouth of
Nhat dark place you see up there. about
ahlrty feet above the ledge That dark
place is a shallow cave.
Naturally l thought no more about
the eagles. The cub would make 4
lar odder pet. But how was l to get
st?
AT the present time there is no way
or reaching the cave except by n rome
from the top OF the cliff, or n ladder
from the ledge, but at that time dead
pine, which had grown on the ledge
leaned against the cliff It's knottv
trunk formed a perfect natural ladder
between the cave and the ledge below
saw at n glance that the old lynxes
must reach their den by way of the
aree. Why couldn't 1 DO the same
thing?
a moro experienced man would not
nave tried such n thing in such n
place, alone and unarmed-I had shot
AWAY all the cartridges in my pistol q
coyote. But the spice of danger did
not stop me, although my only weap.
on was jack knife!
knew how to reach the Iedge-anv
stronS young man can easily get down
10 1t where 1t passes around the cost-
ern side of the hill. After reaching
the ledge, ! began to wonder whether
ahe old lynSes were not about.
Ihat ledge IS 4 singularlv wild ana
lonely place, with fifty feet of Cliff
below 1t and as much towering above
looked up the winding shelf. very
marrow in places, and could not holm
wondering whether l or a lynx or.
Iynxes would 20 over if one or moro
OF the brutes should meet or oyertol-o
me midway. After had gone uoariv
all the way / saw some distinct claw
marks on various bushes. and big foot.
prints on some sand, but as there yvore
NO other signs of the old lynxes I wont
on to the dead pine. There tho don
was more than twenty feet overhead
climb up that dead tree was not
bu. 2 was alarming; for. MI
enough the roots seemed decDlv o,r
Dedded In assures, there was such an
nnsound shaking about It that 1 wa
glad to reach the Top In safety.
lie cave proved TO be merely n
washed-out clay pocket. some five fcct
high by about seven wide M Tho
mouth. and from ten TO fifteen feet
from front to back At the far end
was the lynx kitten. crouchinc omoug
n lot OF small bones and leaves spif.
ting and snarling. its eyes shining like
two great balls OF topaz. 1t was no
larger than q house cat. but lbs p4v.
looked as it they were wrapped no I'M
iur milton three sizes too biz.
Before ] lctt the ledge had cut and
II. TUH I'D