The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-01-02

From the other side OF the room
from his unseen antagonist, ] coulo
hear a low, purring grOwl, rising Oc
caslonally 10 shrill snarl, like that O
belligerent tom-cat. Although
could make out neither form nor out
lire Of the animal, | was presently
able TO distinguish pale greenisL
glimmer OF eyes.
II was not difficult 10 identify their
owner. 1t could be nothing but q
lynx, / thought. that had strayed IN
some way into the cabin. So | was not
particularly alarmed, for the Canada
lynx Is neither very ferocious nor hard
10 kill, and 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
n note or two. aimed squarely be-
tween the phosphOrescent points and
pulled the trigger.
The fash blinded me, and ! could see
nothing. savage snarl followed the
shot, and Jack dashed yelping into the
smoke. There was confused scam
! pering OF feet across the boards to-
ward the inner doorway and more out
have followed his wounded antagonist
! into the second chamber.
! tried to poke up the fire. but II was
too nearly extinct, and / lighted a
match. The room was empty, but In
| the middle OF a shot-tOrn space on the
roughly boarded floor lay a 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 ! reloaded my discharged barrel
lighted another match and cautiously
approached the door. IN the INSULT
cicnt light | could see nothing. | leaned
into the doorway and held up the little
flame. | stepped inside, and the match
burned my fingers and dropped, and
was fumbling hurricdly for another
when sort Of small, animated thun.
derhOlt struck me on the top OF tho
right shoulder.
Before | could realize what had hap
pencd my check was laid open by a
savage claw w.stroke. | felt the soft
cool fur against my neck, ana | was
being clawcd ana bitten with savage
energy; the animal. whatever 1t was.
was clinging TO my coat ana using
nd
II seemed small, but its amazing fer
ocity terrified me, ana | clutchcd at il
and tried TO throw II Off was in
stantly bitten I'm the hand. and II hung
like a bur. snarlng I'm my ear; but
wrCnChcd IL loose and flung IL To the
! floor a medley of yclps and yowls
| told me that it had been attacked by
| the terrier. but | was making for the
door In q panic.
! did not stop TIL | was outside the
! cabin. where Jack Immediately fol
! lowed me, having been worstcd again
| II was pitch dark and raining harder
| than ever. No sound proceeded from
the unlghted shanty. Blood was
| trickling down my cheek. and | washed
my wounds. which did not seem very
scr0Cs, with rain-watcr ana tried 10
decide what sort of animal this could
be. SO small and so ferocious. that had
attacked me.
II was much too small for either n
bay or Canada lynx: II 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.
tcrmincd to clear up the mystery. BE.
sides, | had either TO rid the Shanty
Of its invader or resign myself 10 pass
the rest of the night in the rain
IL was hard, nevertheless. 10 muster
courage to re.CntCr that dark cabin,
but after some minutes Of hesitation
and doubt | did Il, and reached the
fireplace without interruption. threw
an armful of the Sapin upon the hearth
| and lighted il with match; the resin.
Gus twigs blazcd up like straw and IL
lumiued the room brilliantly.
There was no sign OF the enemy, al
though of course | could see little OF
the farther apartment. My courage
revived ut the cheerful blaze. and
| twisted a stout torch OF the dry houghs
lighted IL. ana again approached the
point of danger my cooked gun in my
right hand and the hambcau in my
left.
realized that the brute must have
dropped upon me from the high shelf
| above the doorway, and this time
! poked about with my gun.barrcl at
arms length until | had satisfied my.
| self that there was no danger i'm that
quarter. Then | stepped just inside
! the doorway, and Jack charged in un-
! der cover of the light.
The wailing snarl began again. on
the wide shelf directly opposite me
| crouchcd a ycllowish.gray animal,
which. to my astonishcd amusement.
| recognized at glance as a very huge
domestic cat The domestlcity, how.
ever was rather n racial than an i'm.
dividual characteristic. for never saw
livclicr picture Of wild fury.
The fur stood on end all over its
body, making It appear twice its real
size; its ears twitched; its tail snapped
| viciously To and fro, and its eyes
hlazed green. while from between its
barred teeth came that savage and
rhythmic war.cry. Its gaze was alter.
nately directed at me and at Jack. who
started toward Il. barking fuviouSly
but taking good care to keep out oi
reach
Al -. A.