Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-02-28

AM HOMOGENEOUS register OF game
~ killed without any striking
events, yet there are red-letter
days which are impressed on the men,
ory either by narrow escape from
wounded animal or by the unusual
boldness and cunning of the hunted
quarry.
Some years ago, says writer in
London Field, was encamped in a
district which was seldom visited by
Europeans in India, and news was
brought to me of large panther which
had its home In some rocky hills not
far from my encampment. Many
years experience with these wary ami
mails had taught me that it was neces-
sary to build machan at least day
before sitting up for them, so one af-
ternoon l proceeded to the hills,
where the panther's den was pointed
out to me.
Lair Difficult Of Approach.
A scrutiny of the ground showed 1t
to be most unfavorable for securing
suitable position. The cave in which
the panther had taken up its abode
was at the foot Of some high precipit-
GUS basaltic rocks, where 1t was i'm
possible to select site above the
cave, while the ground from the cave
sloped steeply downward to the valley
beneath. and was covered with large
boulders interspersed with scrub jun
gle.
AS It was impossible to find a tree
strong enough to bear machan a
platform raised about three feet from
the ground, so as to get view over
some boulders, had to be built, and
this was inclosed to the front and on
both sides by leaf screens. After this
was built goat was tied about twenty
yards In front of the macha;. in a posi-
ton where 1t would be visible from the
entrance to the cave.
Having seen to all the preparations,
/ returned to camp, and the next morn
ing the shikaris reported that the goat
had been killed.
At $3.50 p. m. Tajam went to the
place and, as the goat had been al
most entirely devoured, another goat
was tied and the shikari and myself
took our seats on the platform. To my
disgust found that the shikari had
cold, and his sneezing and coughing
were sufficient to drive away any ami
NAL l therefore sent him away, and
he had not been gone more than ten
minutes when heard deep growing
behind me.
Turning around suddenly, l saw a
large panther lying full length in the
scrub. watching me from about three
yards distance. He Immediately
made a couple of bounds to the left of
my machan, where he sat on his hind
quarters watching me and growing
viciously.
1t was impossible for me to shoot,
as the leaves In the screen to the left
were too tightly interlaced even If the
panther would have remained until l
could sight the rifle upon him. My
only chance for shot was that he
would pass along in front of where l
was sitting. toward the goat. This APP
parently he had no intention Of doing,
and we remained in our respective po-
sitions until 1t was nearly dark. when
he quietly made off.
On whistling up my men told them
about the behavior of this panther,
and the shikari informed me that on
leaving he had met it about fifty yards
from where 1 was seated, and as it
would not move he threw stone at
it. when it skunk off snarling and
growing into the jungle. AS 1t was
now quite dark, | unloaded my rifles,
and we proceeded together to unite
the goat
Game Finally Baeged.
We had not gone half dozen yards
when there was a rush and we heard
struggle. The shikari and myself both
said that it was the panther at the
goat. but the other men would not
have it. l, however, reloaded, and as
II was too dark to see, advanced slow
ly to the goat
On coming up to 1t we found it in its
last death struggle, the panther having
seized it by the neck as 1t rushed past
AS | was leaving the next day, | was
unable to sit up again for the panther.
but the next year when was at the
same place l was told the panther
was sill there, so l again sat In the
same place, when the panther came
early, and right and left from IL
smooth bore loaded with Lyons Itheal