The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1905-07-20

~ than in former times, and
this dread of mankind has
NN IA increased as human weap-
ons have grown more deadly.
Once and once only have l seen a
panther that was other than a 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 dc Fuca. l then
held kind of rowing commission from
the Smithsonian Institution. 1 was
but twenty-five, and was thus put on
my nnettle to penetrate unvisited quar-
ters Of the world and keep my eyes
open.
And that time the region was a ver-
liable terra incognita. On the map it
is termed Clallam County, but for a
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.
1t 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 n griz-
Ely that had never yet learned gun
fear. Bears and panthers were the
monarchs of this solitude.
Humanity speaking, too il was law
less coast. Scattered along the shore,
often leagues apart, were few
'1ookouts" of otter-hunters, who were
a law unto themselves. and did not hes
itate to send a far-killing bullet after
those who intruded On their ranges"
The flakes of Il 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 CT 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 high mountain valley, visible
from the coast, by ascending the gorge
OF the Puy-Ciallam, 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 1 had come upon an old log
hut, in a secluded nook of the shore
1t had evidently been deserted for sew
eral years, but 1t served me as a base
for my tramps up the gorge. On the
night of my story l had returned to it
rather late and thoroughly tired, after
solitary ja1nt of twenty miles or
more. l put on half n salmon TO boil
in my porcelain kettle, over fire
which a rock and the end of the hut
sheltered, and 1 also made a skiIletful
of hot breakfast food" this. with su-
gar and spoonful of diluted canned
milk, appeased my hunger a little. till
the salmon was cooked.
Meanwhile dusk had fallen, and the
swarming 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
side-for the insect pests dashed
lindly into my platter and into my
J houth.
81 The moon was not yet quite in sight
over the wooded mountain across the
stream. but its light was slowly diffns-
#ng itself athwart the Wilderness: and
lPresently l heard two sea a-otters miau-
1tng at each other down in Little Bay.
JEhey seemed to be close in to the
Fhore; and as my supper had revived
tne considerably, l took my carbine
N Cf oH u
p thought, to get shot at them as the
moon came up; and a sea-otter pr,
Z may be worth couple of hundred dol
lars,
My little cooking fire had burned
down, and scuffed some loose sand
over it with my foot as 1 stopped to
listen to the otters again. But a dense
gust OF mosquitoes dashed into my
face as 1 stood there; and rejecting
that I might have to lie or stand quiet
for some little time if / stalked the
Otters, went back inside for 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 a minute or two 10 find
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 thai
glowed like Goals in the obscurity! II
was in the very act of crouching to
spring at me. ! heard the sough OF its
breath as 1t drew itself together "a
jump. and leaped back into the hu,
and slammed the door.
had no time to spare. The beast
came plump against the door with 4
y R!ence that tlnearly hurled It batk aud
nIt! One paw came at the creS
ossposf / set my bach