Year: 1868

shooting FIVE goats, two of which rolled
far down the mountain side, fortunately
directly toward the landing place. The
| others were too heavy to carry alone, and
collecting them together, [ slid down the
declivity to the beach and awaited the re-
| turn of the boat for assistance. 1t was
growing dark when my companions re-
turned The sea had increased in violence,
rendering landing not little dangerous,
but, after some difficulty, Lieut.. Cassel
and two sailors sprang On the rocks and
came to my aid.


ENCOUNTER WITH A WILDCAT.


Thinking that the herds of goats dis
persed by my shots might have collected


again near the scene of my exploit, the
| lieutenant took his rife and we slowly


ascended the hills. Midway up the
mountain side and myrtle trees stood
very thick, presenting, with the tangled
brush and fallen trunks, an almost impas-
sable barrier. In our haste, which the
gathering darkness impelled us to make,
We became separated in our ascent, and |
had gone off to the left about two hun
dred yards from the easier but less direct
route of my companions. A small stream
tumbl ed down the rocks, hidden by vines
and bushes, through which [ pressed my
way into sort of bower, five or six feet
hig',, and took long deep draught from
the cool riyulet. [ had laid down on my
breast to drink with greater ease, and
was just putting down my head to take
last tug at the water, when the heavy
shaking of bushy limb startled me ; and,
rising silently to stoopirg posture, [
tried to penetrate the gloom of the over


hanging foliage. I called out first, think
ing it might be one of the party coming
that way, but received no response.
Then suspecting it might be some stray
goat [ strained my eyes again, and sud


denly discovered a dark gray animal
crouched upon fallen tree about twenty
PAGES distant, intently watching me. It's
tail was slowl y moving to and fro, and its
eyes cleaned with bright green light,
and as [ made out the outlines of the
creature, forgot my gun ..and all the


world in an overpowering feeling which
no words can describe. I am sure that
my cap raised at least two inches, In a
moment began to realize my situation
more coolly, and reaching for my gun,
bethought myself of some alternative to
rid me OF the annoying visitor. I had
but one Ely cartridge left, and that was
in the right barrel, the other being load
ed with heavy shot. Crouching behind
small rock, half hidden by luxurious
growth of ferns, I dropped into the left
barrel patent lead pencil cutter and
rammed it down upon the shot, intending
to trust to short range and give the amin
| al the contents of both barrels. While
was doing this called repeatedly to Cas-
sci, whose breechsleader would have
cheered me wonderfully, but not sound
in reply could be heard. I felt that it
was time to do something. l fully real
ized the danger of my position, and knew
had no chance but to commence the at
tack before the increasing darkness put
me wholly in the power of the wildcat,
which still crouched on the log and was
rapidly becoming more indistinct. I will
not undertake to tell what thoughts of
home, of friends on board and those who
mi ght not welcome my return. again,
flashed through my mind, as I brought
my gun to bear and vainly strived to dis
tinguished the sights in the gloom.
With strange sense of peril and reck


lessness [ slowly trained nay piece on tie
eyes of the animal and pulled both trig-
gers. The trilling scream that followed
the discharge [ shall never forgot. The
overloaded gun threw me over by its re-
coil, and springing up | seized the piece
by the muzzie, expecting an attack, but
could only see confused mass rolling
and frantically tearing the leaves and
bushes and rapidly approaching me down
the steep slope of the bank. If my life
| had depended upon it I could not have
got out Of the way for weakness. In less
time than can tell it the creature ceas-
ed its violent struggles and about twenty
feet distant slowly raised on its launches,
evidently blinded be my shot, but still
full Of vigor. I did not dare to move
through fear of betraying my position,
and was nervously thrusting charge of
shot into my gun, when my car was
greeted by the sound of approaching foot
steps and the hurried breath Of some one
coming to my help. The thought flashed
through my mind. is it Cassel with his
rife, or only one of the crew When to
my inexpressible relief I heard the Lieut..


enant cautiously calling my name. With
| nv hand RI mv mouth