The sun., 1902-03-09
The space was too small, and only the deer .
head and neck entered H.

The space was too small. and only the deer .
head and neck entered 1t.
Finding that 1t could 60 no further.
the deer. which was yearling doe, made
frantic effort TO back out OF the trap,
an effort so frantic that she broke her neck,
which killed her instantly.
'The sudden and unexpected jumping
up OF the deer In front OF me frightened
me so that forgot all about my gun, and
when awoke TO the situation there was
no need OF my having a gun, for two Of
the deer were milo away by that time,
and the third one was dead between the
two pine trees.
After got over my excitement pulled
the dead deer from between the trees and.
started TO drag 1t homo.
an hour or more, when l was surprised
TO come upon the trail Of some one who
was travelling through those woods, either
dragging a deer, too. or something else
over the snow.
And he's got his dog with him. said /.
the trail
Il made up my mind that was bearing
a little too much to the west TO make home
the shortest way. and j took straight
course away from the trail Of the man and
tho dog. travelled and travelled, and
began 70 thing / must be pretty near home.
when came TO another trail Of man
dragging something on the snow. and the
tracks OF dog, as thought, accompanying
IL.
This was getting to be so odd and so
spooky that / stopped and began 10 wonder
what Il all meant. Then | saw that the
mans tracks were exactly like mine. Fur
ther Investigation satisfied me that they
were not only like mine, but they were
mine.
Then 1t struck me with startling force
that had been simply walking In circle
and was doubling on my course. i was
lost In the woods. But that didn't account
for the dog.
"For the first time turned and looked
back. There, not two rods behind me,
a great, gaunt, tawny beast, it's eyes glar-
ing, was crouohing In the snow. I needed
no one 10 tell me what IL was. i was not
only lost in the woods, but hungry
panther, attracted by the scent of the
dead deer, was on my trail.
For a moment i stood staring at the
panther, unable 20 move. Then my first
impulse was TO abandon the deer and fee.
The panther crept slowly forward. l
nerved myself and resolved not TO sur
render the deer unless / had to.
My gun had charge of pigeon shot
In It. The folly Of trying 10 kill a panther
with pigeon shot never occurred 10 me.
/ aimed at the panther and fired.
THE panther yelled, sprang for tree
near r, by, and climbed nearly to the top;
Without delay, and without any regard
to direction, / started on with my deer as
fast as could go. On one side Of me there
was good growth Of timber and skirted
that. ] had gone but a hundred yards
when the panther came leaping along
just behind me.
had no more ammunition for my gun,
and l stopped and uttered as terrific a
yell at the panther as i could find lungs
for. The persistent beast leaped back
a tree or two and ! hurried on with my
RIt ha I sf ha
panther resumed the chase.
When he got even with me in tree
yelled again. The panther did not re
treat this time, and | began TO make up
my mind that II was a little doubtful II
l got TO Nelson farm with my deer, or If |
got there at all, when heard a shout come
from the woods ahead of me.
Il yelled again, and the answering shout
was so near this time that the man who
made IL came into sight not more than
hunter named George Parker. The pan
ther climbed higher up in the tree when
Parker appeared, but made no show of
Parker was loaded for panther,
and his load went through that ones heart
at the first fire.
Il was so glad to see the beast tumble
to the ground and give it's last kick that
when Parker told me | was four miles from
home and steadily travelling further away,
II didn't dampen my spirits bit. Parker
took the panther's scalp and helped me
homo with my deer.
Il remember that | drew near TO home
with more fear and apprehension than
l had felt even in the face of the pursuing
panther, for my father was man of few
words, but Of quick and strenuous action
in matters of home discipline: but either
the deer or my story seemed 20 please
him. and | not only escaped chiding, but
had two pieces Of pie for supper that night.
something unheard Of in our domestic