Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-05-08
MYSTERY OF WILD CAT SWAMP
Written for the VA CrrrzrS.I

the woods were as still as death. Ned
wound his way back through the
dense ivy bushes, and over fallen
trees, to where we sat.
For years there bad been strange
stories, told about the woods around
Wild Cat Swamp. Trained dogs,
whose speed was unsurpassed, had
pursued fleet something for miles
without overtaking it. At other times
they had returned, whining, to their
masters after baying wildly and
vainly on the trail of quarry that
ran around In great circles. Often
they had apparently treed the mys-
terious game, but the thing invariably
left its place of refuge before the
hunters could get there.
1t was firmly believed by many
that this strange inhabltant of the
woods was human being, who
lived like wild brute aud had his
hiding place in cave under Beaver
Falls. Others believed it was merely
mountain lion, or wild cat, of un
usual activity and proportions. Most
people were afraid to hunt around
Wild Cat Swamp at night; but we
were looking for adventure.
We sat long time, straining our
ears for some sound of the dogs. 1t
had been an hour since they struck
trail and passed out of our hearing.
For quite while we heard nothing
except the trickling of the water in
The swamp below aud the occasional
hooting of great owl that sounded
like demoni,cal laugh on the mid
night air.
We were talking in low tones " hen
Williams suddenly clutched my arm;
"llisten", he said. Away across
the hills we heard familiar deep
bay, faint at first, then sharp and
clear, as the leading dog climbed a
hill. The dogs were on the other
side of the swamp, fully mile away.
and running like mad. We looked
at Ned,-he was the old hunter of
the party. "They are after the wild
thing, sure, he said quietly. Up
above us the dogs crossed the swamp.
drew nearer, and then seemed to
settle down at one spot, toward which
we FASTENED.
We came out into clearing, and
ran along down the edge of the
woods toward the other end, where
the dogs seemed to be. There were
three of them, and the woods were
ringing with their fierce baying.
We approached the place cautious
ly. Ned left us and made a short
circuit through the woods, intending
to come up to the dogs from down
hlli. Williams and l waited a while
and then went forward together.
The dogs were around the foot of
a tall, bare chestnut. When we were
about thirty feet from it, We paused
and listened. We had not taken
more than a few steps farther, when
there was sharp yelp, a scratching
sound on the opposite side of the
tree. We heard a heavy body strike
the ground aud the sound of long.
quick leaps, as the mysterious thing
tore through the woods with the dogs
after it.
We called to Ned and presently
heard him coming slowly up to where
we stood. "My God," he exclaimed.
''what was that?" He said he was
approaching the tree quietly from
below, and was bending down to get
beneath some underground, when,
warning, heavy body co.,
lided with him, knocking him fat on |
his back.
Our blood was up. Hurrying back |
to the opening, we struck line that
would put us between the dogs and
Beaver Falls, where the chase now
seemed to be heading. Down through
the woods we went, tearing our
clothes and scratching our faces.
The dogs were now to the north of
as and seemed to be moving around
n wide circle. They were hot on
he scent of the game. Williams
irew his pistol and fired a shot in
he air. We stopped and listened to
he echo reverberating down the
'wamp. The baying suddenly ceased,
hen broke out again with increased
Violence, but it seemed once more to
'e in a single spot.
We started for the place immedi-
'tely. This time the dogs appeared
o be in thicket at the foot of an
immense, stabby pine, the upper part
t which Was dark and impenetrable
ven in the bright moonlight. We
esolved to separate and approach the
rec from all sides, for we were more
ham ever determined to see the
reature. We agreed that We would
,ake no noise unless there was !
anger of some kind, when whistle
'ould be the signal for help.
crept silently down a wood road