Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-12-31
THE PANTHER LET GO.
A Man Strangely Saved by the Beas

A Man Strangely Saved by the Beasts
Act When Near Death.
you would like to know how l came
by these marks, young MANI? said the
old hunter in answer to question put
TO him by one Of the party as to how
he got so many sears on his face. I'm
order to tell you l will have to take
you with me some miles over a long
road, then along a narrow trail that
leads off from the road into a dark
wood
These woods are on the side of one
of the tallest and widest of the Black
Hills, in Wyoming, and are known to
hunters in that vicinity as one of the
most dangerous places to hunt. This is
on account of the many cavities in the
rocks, which are huge boulders scat
tered over the ground. These offer en-
,cellent hiding places for large game,
which is plentiful there. In these cavi-
ties the panthers and wildcats make
their lairs. They are undisturbed in
this wild place except by the occasion
al hunter who has pluck to venture in
these parts. Well, l was one of these.
| followed the trail all day, and by
night had reached the shadow of the
dark wood. There was n faint moon in
the sky and by its light l could but
family distinguish my surroundings.
All around me lay great black objects
of different shapes, which knew TO be
boulders.
The silence was something awful,
and it seemed to me as | stood there in
the deserted spot that there could not
be a sound in all the world. Not the
rustic of a leaf stirred the air, not the
,chirp of cricket, not the hum of an
insect l was awful. / stood there in
the midst of it, fearful to ave- Re an
echo. Ii the silence was grand the
awful wall that startled me was terri
bic. 1t went out of the darkness some
where near me.
1T seemed to have sounded in my
eye. 1t woke an echo that went sound
ing through the woods again and again.
then back once more to me. There was
no need for me TO try to see what it
was. knew it was panther Was it
behind me, in front of me or at my
side? l could do nothing but wait for
another wall or hear it stir See.I could
not. the darkness was SO intense.
stood ready to fire at the first chance.
Like a thunderbolt. something leaped
upon and overwhelmed me. / felt its
sharp claws sink into my flesh. Its hot
breath was upon my cheek as it bore
me to the ground. Already its teeth
were sinking into my side. and | felt
the hot blood trickllng down. My arm
got twisted under me in the fall and l
was p6werIess. The great eyes, like
Goals OF fire, We're staring me in the
face.
My strength was going, and / could
feel myself growing more and more
helpless. | managed to wrench one
hand from under me and get my knife.
The beast was crouching over me, and
| made a Wild pass at him, The knife
missed its mark and glided harmlessly
over it's hide. | did not have the
strength to strike. raised my arm 20
make another pass. but | found | had
hardly enough strength to hold the
knife The beast, with open jaws.
made lunge at my arm. 1t caught
my hand. and it's jaws closed over the
blade of the knife With howl of pain
the beast jumped high into the air and
rolled over and over on the ground.
was free. and going over to my enemy
saw that the blade had entered the roof
OF tine mouth and pierced the brain.
The beast was helpless. and lay groan-
ing until morning | lay down and slept
with my head on the soft skin. New
Orleans Times Democrat.
..Hi,, Knew Them