Year: 1879

l should think, when / heard that same
ugly, raspy scrcech again, not half a mile
back.


That made my heart jump, for had be-
gun to think that had given the old fellow
the slip. If didn't run then, never fell
low did!--over logs, rocks, and through
windfalls and bramblcs.


knew it was Il race for life, and | ran
like fox. But in less than three minutes
heard the animal again, and it seemed us
if he wasn't hundred rods behind me.


was hot enough with running, but that
scrccch sent a cold chill down my back.
The beast was coming right up to me


1t was an awful place to run in--all logs
and roots. Forest fires had killed the old
pine growth, and the trees had fallen across
each other, every way.


1t was getting dusk, too. In one of my
tumblcs l came near going hcadforcmost
into great hollow log, and lay for al in
slant Drcathlcss.


But u crashing in the bushes not far be-
hind told me that my relentless pursucr
was close ut hand 1t was no time for
picking out nice hidng-placcs. The hole
in the log seemed to offer a refuge, and
threw i'll my gun, and then backed into it
myself, feet first





get, and there lay and painted had got
back ten or twelve feet. o..


For some minutes, could hear nothing
of the panther. Then heard him moving
about with soft, catlikc steps. a llloment
after, the hole at the of the log darkencd,
and caught Il glimpse of two fiery orbs,
that cleaned with pale flash.


In my frantic haste, had thrust my gun
nj hn 1otr ylo IL
less | could not turn it in there vet I
held the butt ready to thrust with.


The creature, however, did not attempt
to crawl in After an eager look, the eyes
disappeared and little after, [ heard the
beast ut the other end.


Then heard him smelling along the out
side of the log. When he got his nose Just
oil against where lay inside, the animal
gave vent to quick grow. and began to
dig!


1t made me shiver to hear him put his
nails into that log! expected nothing but
he would have it open and claw me out.


But suppose the outside of the log was
tolerably sound and tough for after dig
gng like fury for Il few seconds, he
stopped, and then saw the pale glcam of
eyes at the hole again.





eyes continued to regard me steadily, and
they seemed to grow larger and larger there
in the dark.


Then it went back to the other end, and
pretty soon began to dig once more. I could
hear the splintcrs tear Off. How long it
would take the creature to get through the
log, could only guess, but l got out my
knife and opened it.
The animal kept digging at the log for u
long time, first at one end and then at the
other, but never once tried to crawl in 1t
was lucky for me that this was a tolcrably
sound log.


Then he changed his tactics He left off
tearing at the log, and | rather thought
he had gone away. But rs it was very
dark, concluded to stay where l was till
daylight.


1t was not very uncomfortable position.
But there were plenty of great black ants
that kept running over me, and now and
then got bite, sharp as needle. My
haustcd with my run, / fell asleep several
times But it was tedious night ut best.


After it was light, 7 determined to ven
turc out. But first thought it would be
well to try an experiment.


So put my cap on the butt of the gun
and stuck that out, and moved it around a
little. | was just going to draw it back,
when, pounce! came the creature and
grabbed off the cap, its ugly claws scratch
ing on the gun butt.


That made my heart jump. The sly
brute had been lying in wait all the while,
watching for nc. Hc played around for q
few minutes; but after that heard nothing
more Of him for the day.


Yet dared not come ont, and I passed
some hungry hours. I had already been
twcnty-four hours without a moutilful of
food.


Just at night thrust out my cap again.


The animal did not spring at it; yet
was still afraid to crawl forth after the ex-
ample had had of its syncss.


The night that followed was, without
any exception, the most uncomfortable
twelve hours l ever passed. I was faint
with hunger and from lying so long stretch
cd out, it seemed as if was coming in two
in the middle | ached all over and was
in fever from thirst


Towards morning it began to rain. |
reached my hand out, and sucked Off the
drops that fell on it. AS soon as it had
grown fairly light, pokcd out my head and
took quick glance right and left Not
seeing anything of the panther, crawlcd
out and tried to jump up as quickly as I
could, for was still afraid that the animal
might spring upon me from behind. But I
was 30 stiff and cramped that it was some
moments before could get up straight.
then started down stream for home, and
went rs fast as could, for was afraid that
tho animal might still be hanging around,
at no great distance.


The folks said was comical, not to say
pitiful, object, when reached home, bare
headed, covered with wood stains, and my
clothes torn to strings.


did not 60 up there bcaver-hunting
again that fall.