The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1904-06-02

little pig SQueAi 2uu Ouc "a INC Ao~Ae
cackle. Feeling much concerned lest
some animal had broken into the pen. I
walked Hudson.
He rose in haste. and taking hts gun
opened the door and went out. The door
had wooden hinges which were apt to
creak, and he did not close 1t after him.
It was . warm, dark night near the
last Of May. Stealing out on tiptoe. he
approached the pen, but saw no animal
about it. The pig and fowls were now
| quiet.
AS he stood listening. he heard q
sound little distance on in the clear
ing. as il some creature were digging in
the earth. At once he surmised that
bears or hedgehogs or badgers were
scratching up his newly-planted seed
potatoes-a thing which had occurred
| on several previous nights. He there
fore crept forward, and quietly got be-
hind rick Of partly burned logs. at a
distance from the house. and lay in wait
there for some time, trying to catch Z
glimpse OF the creature, for he heard it
several times moving about not far on.
Meanwhile was having an adventure
all by myself in the house.
For awhile after Hudson went out
lay and listered. Hearing nothing.
fell asleep again. but probably only for
few moments, for Immediately heard
what supposed to be Hudson coming
back into the house.
Ctn al -
door creaking under his weight 1t was
too dark to see anything, but was on
the point Of speaking and asking him
what he had discovered 1T the pen, when.
with what seemed an odd shufning sort
OF step, he walked along to the bunk,
and trod heavily on my left foot under
the blanket The touch Of his foot gave
me . strange sensation. and felt in-
stantly. rather than knew, that it was
not Hudson!
Whoever or whatever 1t was, it ap.
peared to stand still in the dark for some
moments, then took another step on the
bedding Of the bunk.
lay breathless, terrified and not dar-
ing to stir. Was 1t an Indian who had
attacked and perhaps killed Hudson OUT
side. and had now come In to murder
me? My heart thumped hard. but did
not stir, and whole awful minute
seemed to pass.
Suddenly I felt on my face . curious
pun Of air, . warm breath that had >
singular. fresh. wild kind Of smell. It
came again after . moment. hotter this
time, q II nearer. l could scarcely keep
myself from crying out In terror.
Again and again It breathed in my
face. close to my mouth. was so
frightened that I turned cold all over.
It came into my mind now that It was
some large animal SHINING at me-a
grizzly bear or panther that had killed
Hudson. and then come into the house
In quest Of our meat
Idared not move. I expected every In
slant that the beast would seize me BY
the throat. It continued snifnng at me:
then suddenly / felt its rough tongue
touch my face.
I scarcely know what prevented me
from screaming outright and attempt
ing to spring up; but It was probably
fortunate for me that I did not. The AMI
NAL may have thought me dead or
asleep. n I had stirred 1t would prob
ably have seized me or cufIed me with
its paw It - said that Wild beasts will
rarely lay hold Of . sleeping person OF
= dead body.
After shining at me thus familiarly.
the creature moved q little to one eide,
and I heard ii tongue scrape on kettle
which had held porridge. and was set
on 4 low shelf few feet from the bunk.
It had stepped on the bed-blanket, and
again heard the boards Of the door
creak under IT. weight.
Il walked slowly down to the other
end OF the room. Gathering over the
frying-pan. bucket and several tin
dishes near the fireplace. A moment or
two afterward I heard I low, deep growl
and rustling noise. = II the beast had
raised itself and was scratching against
the LOGS Of the house wall. Plainly Il
had found the meat which hung there
heard its Jaws close, graphing one ct
the quarters. then the creaking OF the
noor again . It walked out.
listened awhile, then shouted to my
brother. Hudson! Hudson!" called
out. then listaned again was afraid
thet he had been killed. There was NJ
RESPONSE. l shouted again. and imme-
liateIy heard footsteps running to the
house. He had heard my 1rst outcfys
but Instead of replying. had started . |
run. A monent after ~ rushed In. e.
claiming:
whats the matter With ron. Lever
There's been = Erissly or apanther IN
the house here!" cried.
-You dreamed II" said he. laughing.
NO. didn't dream Il. either!" ex-
claimed "Just you light up and look It |
our meat!"
Hudson struck : match and held 4 |
near uhers The quarters had hung.
.'oreat Caesar!" said he. Zone q |
then = sone. suEel" He seised his gun
and raa out
Quite Ten minutes passed before 10
ca0e baek. He had been unable TO trace |
t. animal; and n point Of fact. Ne
n4ver knew exnctly what sort of beast Il |
va + = likely. however. that It was
Agfimay boor Youths Companion.