The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-03

M IA increased as human weap-
OILS nave grown more deadly.
Once and once only have l seen a
panther that was other than skulk-
ing. timorous brute, intent only on
escape. 1t was fifteen years ago, on
the Olympic shore and range, south
of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. then
held a kind of rowing commission from
the Smithsonian Institution. l was
but twenty-five, and was thus put on
nv mettle to penetrate unviSijed quar-
ters of the world and keep my eyes
open.
And that time the region was YER
liable terra incognita. On the map 1t
is termed Clallam County. but for
hundred miles east and west, particu-
larly among the mountains, it was then
as primitive and savage as when our
race first set foot on the continent.
It was one vast tangle Of brush and
rotting tree trunks, which gave way
like wet paper underfoot, letting the
unwary explorer through into unsus-
pected holes, where he might, very pos
sibly. find himself in the lair of a grlZ-
zly that had never yet learned gum
fear. Bears and pan!hers were the
monarchs of this solitude.
Humanity speaking. too, it was law
less coast. Scattered along the shore,
often leagues apart, We're a few
'lookouts'' of otter-hunters, who were
law unto themselves. and did not hes
itate to send a far-killing bullet after
those who intruded On their ranges" !"
The fakes of few Victoria fisher
men might be stumbled on during the
season About the river mouths one
would at times catch glimpses of an
Indian canoe, or thin line of smoke
rising at sunrise or sunset. But the
forest was too dense, rank and tangled
for good hunting, and the Indians and
half-breeds here were mainly those
whom murder or other crimes had rem
dered outcasts.
In some expectation of finding the
precious metals, had been trying to
reach a high mountain valley, visible
from the coast, by ascending the gorge
of the Puy- -Clallam. from Port Town
send, in a sailing dory. which carried
my small kit and stock of provisions.
A little way up the tidal portion of
the river I had come upon an old log
hut, in secluded nook of the shore.
It had evidently been deserted for sew
eral years, but it served me ss a base
for my tramps up the gorge. On the
night of my story had returned to it
rather late and thoroughly tired. after
q solitary jaunt of twenty miles or
more. I put on half salmon to boil
in my porcelain kettle, over a fire
which a rock and the end of the hut
sheltered, and 1 also made skilletful
of hot "breakfast food:" this. with ST.
gar and a spoonful of diluted canned
milk, appeased my hunger little, till
the salmon was cooked.
Meanwhile dusk had fallen, and the
swarning mosquitoes drove me to don
net and gloves. The hum of thousands
of these insects blended with the dis
tant roar of rapids up the river. To
eat my salmon in peace it was neces-
sary to smoke out the hut and retire
inside-for the insect pests dashed
: blindly into my platter and into my
mouth.
The moon was not yet quite in sight
over the wooded mountain across the
stream, but it's light was slowly diffus-
ing itself athwart the wilderness; and
presently I heard two sea-otters miau-
ing at each other down in Little Bay.
They seemed to be close in to the
shore; and as my supper had revived
me considerably, I took my carbine
and stepped outside. 1t was possible,
thought, to get shot at them as the
moon came up; and a sea-otter pelt
may be worth a couple of hundred dol
lars.
My little cooking fire had burned
down, and I scuffed some loose sand
over it. with my foot as I stopped to
listen to the otters again. But dens'
gust of mosquitoes dashed into my
face as stood there: and rejecting
that might have to lie or stand quiet
for some little time if 1 stalked the
otters. went back inside Tor my head
net and gloves, standing my carbine
against that end of the hut as did so,
for the door was at the other end.
1t took me minute or two to fnd
and put on the net in the dark interior
of the hut; but was coming out When
not twenty feet away, I discovered
some large animal with eyes that
glowed like Goals in the obscurity! II
was in the very act of crouching to
spring at me! 1 heard the soush Of its
breath as it drew itself together tc
jump. and I leaped back into the hui
and slammed the door.
I had no time to spare. The beast
came plump against the door with /;
violence that nearly hurled it back an(
me with it! One paw came at the crev
ice by the door-post. 1 SIT my bach
apainst tho door and ding nv heels int