New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17
SONNY AND THE KID
CCraEaeG from page s

later. he heard the Kid CRYING. There was no
installing the note OF terror IN that hopeless,
helpless little sound Sonny did not need to
reason about II, ms neart understood al that
VS. necessary. Something was frightening the
HI HIS white teeth barred themselves, and
he darted forward.
AT tins instant there came 4 cracking and
swishIng IN the thicket; and the Kid, if
released from a spell, turned with a scream
and started to flee. He tripped on = root, how
ever, and fell headlong on his face, his yellow
CuTlS mixing with the brown twigs and fir
needles Almost IN the SelfSa.le second 4 big
gray lynx burst from the green Of the under
brush and sprang upon the little, sprawling,
helpless form
But not actually upon it. Those outstretch-
ing, murderous claws never actually sank into
the Kids flesh. For Sonny was there lust as
soon IS the lynx was. The wild beast changed
its mind, and attack, just in time to avoid
beng taken at = serious disadvantage. The
rush Of Sonny's heavy body bore it backward
clear OF the Kid. The latter scrambled 10 his
feet, stltied his SGbs, and stared open mouthed
at the sudden fury OF battle which confronted
him.
Had Sonny not been endowed with intelli-
genCe well as Valor, he would have fallen
victim almost at once to his adversary terrific,
Taking hind claws. But fortunately during his
pugnaClOus puppyhOOd he had had several
encounters with war wise, veteran cats. To
him, the lynx was obviously a huge and par
tlcularly savage cat. He knew the deadly
power OF its hind claws, with al the strength
of those great hind quarters behind them
As he grappled with the screeChing lynx,
silently, after the fashion Of his bull ancestors,
he received q ripping slash from one OF its
armed fore paws, but succeeded IN fixing his
gT1p on the base OF the beast neck, not far
from the throat. Instantly he drew himself
backward with all his weight, CrouChing fiat,
and dragging the enemy down with him.
In this position. Sonny, backing and pulling
with all his strength, the splitting and screech-
ing cat was unable to bring its terrible hinder
claws into play. The claws Of the beast 5 great
fore paws. however were doing cruel work on
Sonny's back and sides; while its long fangs,
pointed Ike daggerS, tore SaYagely At the one
point on his shoulder which they could reach.
This terrible punishment Sonny took StoiCallv,
caring only TO protect the tender under part
of his BODY and his ewes. His close grip on the
base Of the animals neck shielded his ewes;
and, according to the custom Of his tenacious
breed. he never relaxed his hold for a moment,
but kept chewing IN, chewing IN. IncXurably
working his way 70 a final, fatal grip upon the
throat And not for moment, either, did he
desiSt from his steady backward pull, which
kept the foe from doubling upon him with Its
hind quarters.
For several minutes the furious struggle went
on, sonny apparently, getting all the worst
of IL His back and shoulders were pouring
blood; while his enemy showed not a hurt.
Then suddenly the gray beasts screeching
took on a half strangiing sound. With its
mouth wide open II ceased TO bite, though its
fore paws raked and clawed more de- perately
than ever. Sonny's relentless hold was begin
ming 10 throttle. His mouth was now too full
of long fur and loose skin for him 10 bite clean
through the throat and finish the fight. But
he felt himself already the victor.
Suddenly, rs he continued that steady back
ward drag the resistance ceased. The lynx
had launched itself forward IN one last con-
vulsive struggle TO free itself from those