The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-01-09

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and an unframed pup that had never
seen bear. They conceived the idea
that if the old man would put on the
skin of recently killed bear they
could give the pup the necessary mi
tiation in bear hunting. The old dog
being experienced and vicious was
tied up. Mr.. Steward donned the
bear skin sewing it in places so it
could not come off and betook himself
to the meadow. The pup being half
afraid capered around swapping at the
supposed animal and making a great
to-do. But Rover (the old dog) could
not look on such bright and shining
mark with equanimity, and making
a great bound broke his chain and
went leaping toward the bear.
Someone screamed, Grover is
loose!" and the old man sprang to a
tree but did not succeed in getting out
of Rover's reach. One of the boys
being interested in the pups advance
ment yelled to his daddy to hold on
a little longer, it would be the making
of the pup. However, Mrs. Steward,
realizing her husbands danger, club
bed the dogs off, but not until the old
man was so severely bitten he was
confined to the house for several
weeks.
Venison and Bear Meat to Baltimore
Meshach had made trip to Balti-
more with venison, bear meat and
skins and realized quite nice profit
from them. On one of these excur-
sions, at New Market, he met his
brother jeremiah, whom he had not
seen for thirty years.
Several new settlers had come in,
among them being Captain Campbell,
from Frederick County, and his SON.
Iin-law, James Cunningham; DR..
James McHenry, also John McHenry,
who settled at Buffalo Marsh. Cap
tain Campbell proposed building a
saw mill if Meshach would establish
a -four mill, both of which were much
needed in the neighborhood, and in six
months they were in operation.
A Panther Trailed and Killed
Meshach and Hugh McMullen were
a long distance in the woods, and for
two or three days without bread and
salt, had started home, when they
came upon the tracks of panther
that was trailing some deer. Meshach
told Hugh that Notwithstanding they
were both tired and hungry he would
like to stop that old woods pirate
from killing any more deer. Hugh
thought he was too tired to follow
him, but in the end they both went.
Within two miles they found a deer
still warm, covered with leaves and
snow, dressed and bled as expertly as
a hunter could do it.
Indeed, the panther is a most re-
lentless hunter-all seasons are his
and he prowls day and night. AS soon
as Meshach and Hugh had skinned
and hung the deer, they again took his
trail and discovered him in thicket
of laurel, perched high on the limb Of
a pine tree. When the hunters ap-
preached he crouched, lashing his tail
and prepared to jump on them, his
eyes blazing with fury. Meshach did
not stand on much ceremony in dis
posing of the hideous, snarling bSute.
The first shot brought him down dead.
After skinning the animal they he'd
eight miles to walk before reaching
home.
When they entered the door an
nouncing their famished condition,
Mary told them dinner was waiting.
Meshach had always been prejudiced
against using opossum for food on ac-
count of the rattish-looking tail and
ears. Mr.. Spurgin had brought one
that morning and had asked Mary to
cook it. But not until they had near
ly finished eating did Meshach inquire
what kind of meat she had served.
She told him Mr.. Spurgin had killed
a duck. Presently one of the little
children approached Meshach, dang
ling the tail of the opossum and in
nocently lisped: "Father, here is the
ducks TAIL"
Hunter Has Narrow Escape
Two panther hunts followed in sue
cession. On the first one, Meshach
unexpectedly came upon his quarry
lying by a deer he had just killed.
Away he went bounding up tree.
bowed himself and displayed all the
signs of battle. Meshach understood
too we'll his attitude and kept at a
safe distance. When Meshach fired,
the panther sprang up the tree with
the agility of squirrel. Meshach had
to reload his gun quickly, not know
ing what the animal would do next.
He was lying in the fork of tree,
partly shielded by several limbs.
Meshach aimed at his heart and fired,
but the bullet lodged in the bones Of
his shoulder, disabling him and caus-
ing him to fall fifteen or twenty feet