Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-19

along, the edge of the bushes ! knelt as near
the fire as possible, and the beating of my
footballs
When could bear the suspense no longer,
1 pulled a burning stick from the fire and
threw it into the woods when heard one of
the creatures
The stick was well aimed, for by its light
saw an animal jump aside and leap into the
bushes. The beast was about the size of a
setter dog, its head was large, with grinning
white teeth, and it snarled spitefully as it
jumped out of sight; it's appearance was un-
pleasant, and yet | was much relieved.
| had feared that | was being watched by
beast knew that it must be Canada lynx
an animal common in the forests of Canada,
but very rarely found in New York tSate.
Although relieved to find that my visitors
lynx was dangerous fellow. 1t is their Gus.
tom to hunt in pairs, and / had heard of in
| pie.
For several hours I knelt by the fire, lis
tenlng to those stealthy footballs until, in
spite Of my unpleasant 4SI situation, began to
grow drowsy. This would never do, for, once
asleep, would fall an easy prey.
"a determined, if l could get sight of one
other effect, it might frighten them away.
Holding the loaded gun in one hand took
burning stick from the fire, and, as before.
threw it toward the skulking lynx, but this
time aimed the brand so that it fell beyond
the animals.
One of the lynxes jumped into the charred
space, snarling at the blazing wood which
had fallen at his side. Now was my oppor-
tunity, for the animal was within the circle
lighted by the campfire.
| discharged one of the buckshot cart
ridges, taking as good an aim as was possible
under the circumstances. The lynx sprang
back into the bushes, and for time ali was
quiet.
had begun to hope that I had killed one
lynx and frightened the other off, when [
again heard the. stealthy footballs encircling
the open space; but, well as | could Judge.
there, was now but one animal making the
rounds.
My success in getting rid of one of them
encouraged me to, try another piece of STRAIT
egy. Putting fine shot cartridge into the
empty barrel of my gun, lay down before
the fire, as if asleep.
blaze lit up clearly all the open space. NV
gun, with the hammers raised, lay at my
side.
For what seemed to me full hour I lay
perfectly, quiet. At last my patience was
rewarded by a slight movement on the edge
OF the little clearing. In few minutes /
could see the lynx creeping slowly toward
where l lay.
As he got nearer the fire could see him
quite plainly. His grinning teeth and large
crawled with his body touching the ground,
as does a, cat when hunting mouse.
1 waited until he was within ten feet of
me, then, jumping to kneeling posture, and
before he could either spring at me or Jump
back, / fred the load Of large shot into his
head. The lynx leaped into the air and fell
dead at my feet.
During the remainder of the night I was
not disturbed. AS soon as it grew light /
went to the spot where had shot at the first
lynx, and among the bushes NOT twenty feet
away, found him stone dead.
After / had breakfasted off my remaining
grouse, / skinned the lynxes and, taking Their
hides, together with my sable, trudged YEARLY
back to the shanty.
The lynx skins make two fine rugs for nv
study and compensate me for the nervous
night passed watched by the creatures.
My sable line was not again disturbed, and
1 have no doubt that when shot the two big
cats had my revenge on the real robbers oil