Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-04-17
THE LYNX HowLED WITH RAGE.

the end of the forest bounded road
cracking in the branches overhead and
slightly in advance Of me caused my
heart to stand still with fear and my
bare, brown legs to go faster. Ere
had gone a dozen PAGES | heard some
thing drop into the dusty road. With
out hesitating a moment or turning my
head / ran straight to the rail fence
which bordered the road. | was now
at the edge of the clearing. 1t was the
back field of our own farm and was
newly plowed A short distance from
the road stood log barn, with cellar
underneath. which had been built for
the storage Of roots and vegetables.
while the upper part was filled with
hay.
ST cleared the fence with no remem-
brance of ever touching it. AS struck
across the field l glanced over my
shoulder Just in time to see an immense
lynx poise itself on the top rail, it's ugly
head and short ears and curved tail
showing in fearsome relief against the
strip of sky behind. Just second the
brute paused, and then it leaped from
the fence and struck after me.
81 managed to reach the barn ahead
of the beast. but had no time to swing
the great door shut. | made for the
trapdoor and by mighty effort raised
1T. / had just time to slide underneath
and pull it down when heard the
claws of the lynx on the barn floor.
The willy creature seemed to be aware
that | could not be al away and i'll
less time than it takes to tell it had
scented me underneath the trapdOor.
"With savage whine of JOY it began
to tear and scratch with it's powerful
claws, at the edge of the trapdoor. A
chain hung down from the underside.
and to this hung with all my strength,
fearing every moment that the strong
claws would succeed in wrenching
away all that stood between me and
frightful death.
"rhen after a time all was still.
kept quiet and listened long time. 1t
seemed as though the night must be
half gone. | must have been there for
hours. Could it be possible that the
lynx had grown weary of his vigilance
and abandoned his prey? The more
pondered over this idea the more con-
WINGED | became that | was correct. l
listened intantly for awhile longer, but
could hear not sound. | decided to
make a venture. but the tales | had
heard related of the cunning of these
animals made me cautious. So careful
ly, slowly. a fraction of an inch at
time, | raised the trapdoor.
"Quick as Il flash | pulled the trap
door down again. and a howl OF rage
Weakened the echoes of the barn. | had
the front leg OF the lynx damned be-
tween the trapeaor and the floor. Its
claws were firmly Embedded in the
strong, unyielding fabric Of my home
spun coat. and-there we were. |
couldn't get away from the lynx. and
it couldn't get away from me. When
ever it jerked around too much. it's
claws hurt my shoulder, and | would
pull down tighter on the trapdoor to
make it keep still. Then it would cry
and snarl and whine savagely. fero-
ciously. pIeadingly and imploringly.
1.-THE cat had settled down, with
seeming acceptance of the inevitable,
and | was trying not to fall asleep.
when suddenly across the still summer
air foated the tune of Annie Laurie
1t was my fathers whistle. | guessed
he was on his way to the neighbor's to
see why had not come home. so | de-
termined to attract his attention. i'm
mediately produced series of whoops