Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-02-02
A NIGHT IN the
WILDERNESS
Terrifying Experience With a
Beast of Prey.

A woman came out OF the tent, ana
the little fellow said to her:
"Mother. there are panther tracks on
the trail to the river"
s'Sure?' said the woman, paling.
Two little girls came out with fright
ened faces. They had heard the news
and, young as they WERE, understood
it. The MaXcy family were pioneers
who had come to the country to settle,
but had not yet built their cabin. The
father had gone to the nearest county
seat to enter the land and would not
be back till the following day. The
mother and son consulted what they
should do. The panther would likely
be back again, and there was no GER
tain defense. True, little Tom MaXcy
had his rifle and for a boy was a fair
shot, but %supposing the panther should
come upon them suddenly or that Tom
should miss him! In that case the
family would be at the brute's mercy.
Since there were no neighbors to
help there was nothing to do but
make the only preparation possible
that is, gather wood for the purpose of
building a fire. Tom got his rifle in
good shape, but it was of small size.
and his mother feared to have him use
it lest it's tiny ball should only enrage
the panther. Tom worked all the
morning gathering wood and spent the
afternoon seeing that the pens contain
ing the cattle were secure.
The sun went down, and darkness
stole over the land. An awful dread
came upon the family as night drew
on. Would the panther find another
meal and let them alone? They hoped
for the best. Tom lighted the fire.
which he had laid directly before the
tent, and he had driven a forked branch
into the ground on which to rest his
rifle. The little girls We're put to bed.
and Tom and his mother kept watch.
There was stiffness except the occa-
sional swapping Of the fire or the cry
Of a distant loon. Hour after hour the
mother and son sat waiting for the
night to pass. and soon after midnight
the boy fell asleep. He was awakened
~ q It tJol lhC Sil q foAOll Slio-
lance away, as of some heavy animal
jumping from a tree. Opening his eyes,
he saw terror in his mothers face. She
caught his wrist and held it as in the
grip Of a wise.
Look" she cried.
Tom, on following the direction of her
eyes, saw two glazing balls out in the
darkness. Tearing himself away from
her. he kicked the burning logs, send
ing up sparks and flame that illumined
the dark figure. He hoped that this
would drive it away, but he was dis
appointed. The panther was doubtless
hungry and loath to give up his prey.
Tom went to his rifle.
Mother" he said, "throw a firebrand
at him."
But Mrs. MaXcy was not equal to
such an act. and Tom. resting the butt
of his rifle on the ground, seized a
brand and. first waving it over his
head, threw it straight at the beast.
which shrank away for a time. but it
was not long before Tom saw those
two glazing eyes again fixed upon him.
Again he tried the eXpedient of tossing
a brand, but this time the panther paid
but little attention to it.
The realization of the horror threat
ening them vas what paralyzed the
mother. One Of the blessings of youth
is the absence Of such realization,
which accounts for the absence Of fear.
and Tom MaXey was at an age when
II doesn't picture dreadful things to
come. His faculties were all bent on
his work. which was to drive the pam.
Their off or kill him. But the beast Go
clined to be driven off. Indeed. Tom
noticed Il certain u%ndulatory movement
of his body. which was stretched fiat
on the ground. that indicated he was
crawling gradually nearer for a spring
Tom seized Il last brand-a big one
and threw it with so true IN aim that
had not the panther lodged it would
have struck him. Then the boy. with
out waiting to see the result. sprang
for his rife. Mrs. Maxey rushed fran
tically into the tent and Rugged her
little girls to her. Their cries seemed
to whet the panther's appetite, and
Tom saw him rising on his fore paws
ready for a spring. The boys eye was
looking down the barrel of his rifle.
bringing the two sights in line with
the center Of the brute's eye. The
| distance was not great, not more than
a dozen yards. He had a rest, and his
young heart was beating scarcely
more rapidly than usual. He was
sure if he fred before the panther
| sprang he could hit his head and be.
lieved he could hit the eye he aimed
for. At a moment when the beast
was perfectly still and the bead at the
muzzle of the rifle in line with the
breech sight and the panthers eye
Tom pulled the trigger. The animal
gave a spring into the air and fell
back motionless.
Tom waited to see if he would stir,
but as he did not he called to his
mother that he had killed the monster,
then walked forward to inspect him.
When he came near enough to see a
stream of blood pouring from the eye
he knew he had pierced his brain.
En sAIa