Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-03-16
AN OUTLAW TRIBE.
BY Frank Lille Pollock,


burned almost entirely out; only s. few
ash-covered brands glimmered on the
hearth. l was greatly annoyed ut the
disturbance, and although l could not
see the dog, 1 called angrily to him to
be quiet.
He must have mistaken my tone for
one of encouragement, for heard him
make sudden rush across the floor.
There was an outburst of snarlings, q
sudden, sharp, catlike "yowl," and the
sound Of vicious rough-and-tumble
scrimmage in the darkness. I jumped
up, wide awake now, but before l
could make any further movement
Jack had broken away from his enemy
and rushed back to me for protection.
He was whining and quivering with
rage and excitement.
From the other side of the room,
from his unseen antagonist, could
hear low, purring growl, rising oc-
casionally to shrill snarl, like that of
belligerent tom-cat. Although l
could make out neither form nor out
lire Of the animal, 1 was presently
able to distinguish n pale greenish
glimmer of eyes.
1t was not difficult to identify their
owner. 1t could be nothing but a
lynx, l thought, that had strayed in
some way into the cabin. SO 1 was not
particularly alarmed, for the Canada
lynx is neither very ferocious nor hard
to kill, and l picked up my gun from
the wall and cooked it. At the click
the eyes seemed to regard me more
intently, and the growing snarl rose
note or two. l aimed squarely be-
tween the phosphorescent points and
pulled the trigger.
The flash blinded me, and could see
nothing. A savage snarl followed the
shot, and Jack dashed yelping into the
smoke. There was a confused scam
pering of feet across the boards to-
ward the inner doorway and more out
cries from the dog, who seemed to
have followed his wounded antagonist
into the second chamber.
l tried to poke up the fire, but 1t was
too nearly extinct, and l lighted a
match. The room was empty, but in
the middle of a shot-torn space on the
roughly-boarded floor lay q broad patch
of blood.
Jack was standing in the doorway,
barking violently and looking back to
me for encouragement, and / could
see red streaks on his white hide be.
fore the match burned out.
[ was considerably surprised that the
shot at close range had not been fatal.
but l reloaded my discharged barrel,
lighted another match and cautiously
approached the door. In the INSULT
cient light l could see nothing. l leaned
into the doorway and held up the little
flame. | stepped inside, and the match
burned my fingers and dropped, and
was fumbling hurriedly for another
when q sort Of small, animated thun-
d2rbolt strucl. ne on the top Of the
right shoulder.
Before I could realize what had hap
pened my cheek was laid open by a
savage claw-stroke. / felt the soft,
cool fur against my neck, and l was
being claWed and bitten with savage
energy; the animal, whatever it was,
Vas clinging to my coat and using
to3!th ,t,g Ed ..sm ....,s = y?-!tahle fury
lt:,.emed small, but it- cir-zing fer
ocity terrified me, and l clutched at it
and tried to throw it off. I was in
stantly bitten in the hand, and it hung
like a bur, snarling in my ear; but l
wrenched it loose and flung it to the
floor. a medley Of yelps and yowls
told me that it had been attacked by
the terrier, but l was making for the
door in n panic
did not stop till 1 was outside the
cabin, where Jack Immediately fol-
lowed me. having been worsted again.
1t was pitch dark and raining harder
than ever. No sound proceeded from
the unlighted shanty. Blood was
trickling down my cheek, and l washed
my wounds. which did not seem very
decide what sort of animal this could
be, SO small and so ferocious, that had
attacked me.
1t was much too small for either q
bay or Canada lynx; it had seemed
not larger or heavier than Jack him.
self, but its savage energy of assault
was terrific. In spite of the demoral-
lied condition Of my nerves, was de
termined to clear up the mystery. Be-
| sides, | had either to rid the shanty
of its invader or resign myself to pass
the rest Of the night in the rain.
| 1t was hard, nevertheless TO muster
courage to re-enter that dark cabin
but after some minutes of hesitation
and doubt l did it, and reached the
fireplace without interruption. 1 threw
an armful of the sapin upon the hearth
and lighted it with a match; the resin
Gus twlgs blazed up like straw and il
lumlned the room brilliantly.
There was no sign of the enemy, al
though of course 1 could see little o.
the farther apartment. My courage
revived at the cheerful blaze, and
twisted stout torch of the dry boughs