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

my knife and began whetting II along
the leg of my calfskin snaps. The big
blade was broken. so that the longest
one left measured only two inches.
One short blade against a mouthful OF
sharp teeth and twenty sharp claws.
each an inch long and as good ms
knife! But the advantage in weight
was mine.
While i was whetting the point the
lynx. as If haunting me with what Il
would do on my carcass coolly com
menced clawing and mouthing a piece
or the fallen tree. Now and again ne
would lift his big head my way. and
on one of these occasions IL occurred
TO mc-what a chance for a ropel OF
course my lariat was tied to my sad
dle-wherever that might be-but 1
could not get the idea out OF my head
how easy it would be to get rid of
the brute IL l only had a moose around
his neck!
1t would only be necessary to choke
him, or swing him over the edge.
even thought OF tearing my shirt into
strips to make 4 rope, but that would
be too hlmsy.
All this time I had plenty of the
right material at hand-the leather
snaps. or trousers, on which 1 was
Whetting my knifei They had been
worn long enough to be soft and plia-
bic. and although they had cost me
$50 1t did not take me thirty seconds
to pull them off. nor ten minutes to
reduce them to Il pile OF long. inch
strips, which when knotted together
made very tolerable line. 1 then
tied one end securely around a point
of rock, and was ready to make my
first throw.
But l was so excited that, notwith-
standing the lynx never moved when
l threw, missed him altogether. The
moose went spinning over his back.
down over the ledge. He glared Mt it
Tor few moments, then sprang at II
furiously. 1 barely had time to Jerk
1t out of his way. If he had caught it
there would have been a sudden end
to my hope.
My next throw was better. AS he
sprang to avoid the loop IL caught him
fairly. The jerk almost pulled me out Of
the cave; in fact had to let go the line
TO save myself. The moose. as nearly
as l could see, was drawn tight around
the brute's neck and under one fore
leg, but he was jumping and bouncing
about so that l could not see him we'll.
FOR the space Of perhaps forty seconds
there was simply whirling, snarling
mass OF yellowish gray, with teeth,
claws and spinning rope forming a
confusing picture
Back and forth, out to the edge. then
close in again, to and fro in lightning
moves he sprang, until at last. with
one mad rush. he went flying over the
narrow shelf and down out of sight.
The leather cord snapped across the
sharp edge OF the rock near me like n
thread, and moment later l caught
final glimpse of the terrified creature
plunging through the bushes down the
hill
About six feet of the line vet re-
NAMED tied to the rock. 1t meant lust
six feet less for me to drop. / tied IL
to the butt Of my stick, which 1 re-
placed in the creyice. Five minutes
later l was on top of the hill, hurry
ing toward home. 1 found my horse.
still saddled, calmly nibbling beside
the corral, and the calves safe inside.
On the following day l went back
with double-barreled gun charged
with buckshot and my revolver, hop
ing to kill the old pair and capture the
cub, but they and it were gone.
have no doubt the little creature
jumped down safely and Joined its
parents. At least 1 have always hoped
so.-T. Dwight Hunt Jr., in the
Youths Companion.