THE COUGAR. 415 



an intense desire for a long life; so, without any prelimi- 

 naries, he dealt his assailant such a kick in the stomach as to 

 break its hold on his arm and to lay it prostrate at his feet. 



The Cougar instantly resented this rude treatment. 

 Crouching, it sprung at Joe' s throat, but he warded its head 

 from his throat with his left arm, while with bis right he 

 dealt it a Sullivanic blow in the ribs that again prostrated 

 it at his side. Quick as a flash, it returned to the attack and 

 seized him by the left hand, driving its fangs through the 

 flesh and fearfully lacerating it. It was a fight for life, and 

 Joe, with his brawny fists and heavy boots, beat and kicked 

 the animal with such force that it released its grip on his 

 hand and retreated a short distance. Then it crouched and 

 sprung at him again, landing on his breast and knocking 

 him heavily against a tree; but again he cuffed and kicked 

 it, until it again retreated and crouched for another spring. 



Fortunately, Joe, looking down, saw the spade he had 

 been using lying at his feet. Stooping quicklj 7 , he grasped 

 it, and rose just in time to ward off the Cougar's spring by 

 giving it a thrust with the spade. The brute fell at his feet, 

 but instantly rose and seized him by the thigh. Maddened 

 with pain, Joe made a gladiatorial thrust at the Cougar's 

 head. The sharp blade of the spade went crashing through 

 its skull, and it fell dead at his feet. 



The place where this battle occurred was a mile from my 

 father's house, and we can imagine the feelings of the poor 

 fellow, so dreadfully bitten and scratched, as he reeled 

 homeward, the blood streaming from every wound. Hap- 

 pily, he was observed when he reached the edge of the 

 prairie, and assistance soon reached him. He was conveyed 

 to the house, where all possible assistance was rendered him. 

 It was many weeks before he recovered, and when he grew 

 strong again, he shipped on an American coaster as a sailor, 

 saying that he had less fear of the sharks of the ocean than 

 of the " big kitties " of the land. 



Miss Mary Campbell, of York, British Columbia, now 

 the wife of John Kelly, of Sumas, Washington, had an 



