Godey's Lady's Book

GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK
Philadelphia, February 1850

PETER. ALLAN'S PANTHER CHASE: OR, INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A BACKWOODSMAN.

BY SARAH HEPBURN HAYES.

THE little story it is our present purpose to relate, is one which may be depended upon as strictly true. The leading incidents were related by a descendant of the person we intend to introduce under the cognomen of Peter Allan; and, although under the necessity of detailing it in our own way, we will give an unvarnished statement of facts. Peter Allan was a fine, athletic young Irishman, who came from the auld countrie in the nineteenth year of his age. Fifty years back, the class of emigrants who arrived from that unhappy country were, as a general thing, less destitute than at present. As far as worldly wealth was concerned, Peter had a small patrimony which he was fortunate enough to dispose of to advantage. The sum thus obtained he, hoarded with great care, and being possessed of uncommon natural shrewdness, and endowed with indomitable energy of character, he managed by laboring with his hands to support himself in comfort; and, after a time, to lay up a portion of his earnings towards what had ever been the summit of his wishes, viz., the possession of a farm. Peter was up early and down late; no job that promised the reward of a penny was beneath his notice, and employment that required trust was usually executed so as to give entire satisfaction. . So obliging was his disposition, and so punctual his habits, that he at length began to make friends among his employers. One rich gentleman in particular, attracted, in the first place, by his open countenance, took a great deal of notice of him; and, on Peter making him acquainted with his secret and long-cherished scheme, of some day owning a farm, the gentleman promised to make inquiry, and if he could discover a place that would suit him, he would take an early opportunity of acquainting trim with the fact.

Accordingly, one morning he sent for Peter, and informed him that he had been making inquiry, and had learned from a correspondent that there was a farm such as Peter wished about two hundred miles from the city. This appeared like the end of the world to the unsophisticated Irishman; but the gentleman, taking down a map, made him acquainted with its location, and pointing out the advantages which might accrue to him from being among the first settlers, with the gradual rise which must take place in the value of property as the country became populated, he became willing and eager to embrace the opportunity thus offered for enriching himself. There was another difficulty, however, in the way. Allan had become enamored of a blue-eyed lass living on the Jersey side, who could not see any reason for going so far to make a home in the Pennsylvania woods; and it required all his powers of persuasion, and every epithet of endearment the musical language of his native land could supply, to alter her resolution.

At length, Debby consented, and no time was lost in making their preparations. Their mode of conveyance was after the ancient fashion, a heavy wagon. It was laden with such articles of furniture. as might be useful in their new home, and with provisions for themselves, and provender for the four stout horses whose business it was to convey it over the wretched road stretching from Philadelphia into the interior. This mode of conveyance had its inconveniences; but, at the time of which we write, no other was practicable, and Peter and his wife, with the man-servant and maid, who accompanied them, endured the discomforts of the journey with exemplary patience and cheerfull hope. The wagon was the shelter and the transport; for in their route, at that day, few habitations were to be seen; and when at nightfall they would halt in some deep forest and kindle their huge camp-fire, they would spread their repast beneath some overarching tree, and, secure in the light of the cheerful blaze, talk over the occurrences of the day with jests and laughter; while, perhaps, the owl would hoot and scream in the distance, or the wolf bark and howl, in a manner which would set the dogs accompanying them to baying, until the whole forest echoed to the sound. Debby, it is true, would sometimes feel a degree of alarm, but daylight always had the effect of reassuring her; for the scenes through which they passed possessed the charm of novelty, and there was an indescribable interest connected with their progress and the beginning of their life in the wilderness.

At length the desired haven was reached, and they found a comfortable log dwelling awaiting them, within two miles of a settlement consisting of a dozen or two of houses. The site selected for these dwellings was a gentle elevation in the center of a lovely valley, girded in by an amphitheatre of hills, whose graceful and romantic shapes added much to the beauty of the scenery.

The Allans had been settled some weeks in their new residence, and were beginning to feel quite at home, when Debby, who was engaged at some domestic duty on the outside of the door, noticed a woman approaching the house; she had a wearied look, carried an infant in her arms, and led by the hand a little one apparently about three years of age. The coarseness of their habiliments proclaimed their poverty; this, however, instead of repelling, opened Debby's kindly heart towards her, as to one less fortunate than herself. And on her advancing, she invited her in to rest awhile There was something pleasant about the countenance of this wayfarer, and, although evidently inured to hardship, her manners were far from being rough or uncouth; while her language, although she had acquired some of the inaccuracies common to the woods, showed that her education had not been wholly neglected. On asking leave to stay all night, it was granted with ready hospitality; and after being refreshed by a cup of milk and a hot corn-cake – for tea was a beverage more difficult to obtain than at present – they asked as to her place of abode. She replied as follows: –

"We live on a clearing about six miles farther up. We have a garden and a few fields; but as there is no house nearer than yours, it is often quite solitary. I can see the squirrels at play in the woods when I sit at work, and the wolves howl dismally around the house sometimes."

"Are you not afraid?" asked Debby, with dilating eyes.

" Not often," returned the woman, smiling. " I generally keeps a good fire" – (wild animals always flee from a fire)— " and Towser there," pointing to a large bull dog who had followed her, and now sat sullenly eyeing the group—" Towser there is nearly as good as a man."

"Is your husband always at home?" interrogated Peter.

"No; he is sometimes gone two or three days to the mill, and then I have to stay alone. But I would not mind, if we had a door to the cabin."

"Have you no door?" asked Debby, again, in amazement.

"Not yet. A body can't get everything at once. But, as I was a going to tell you, this accounts for my being here. My man left yesterday morning, to be gone a couple or three days; and last night I hung a quilt on two forks before the door, brought in the pitch-fork, put the dog outside, and after hushing the little ones to sleep, betook myself to bed as usual. Some strange noise awoke me in the night; and, on turning around, the dog came in looking dreadfully afraid, and whining as I had never heard him do before. Feeling scared, I got up, made on a blazing fire, for it had got low, and peeping out from under the quilt, I saw the most enormous bear you ever laid eyes on, standing just outside. You may be sure, I put it down in u hurry; and as I did not feel much inclined to sleep again, for fear the critter would come in, Towser and I sat and kept up a fire the remainder of the night."

"Have you never been seriously alarmed, or injured by these wild animals?" inquired Peter.

Delighted with having an audience so evidently interested in the incidents which had befallen her, the woman commenced, with animation –

"I can't say that I ever was much afraid but once. We lived then up in the Green wood, as much as fifty miles from here. It was a terrible lonesome place; there was no habitation within a long distance from us. This child"—pointing to the elder girl—" was a baby then; and one evening I shut her in the house, and went out about twilight to look for the cow, which had strayed away; for my husband was from home. I had not proceeded far, when I heard such a wild, strange cry among the bushes on a hill, at a short distance. It sounded almost like the cry of a child; but so loud and shrill! I had heard of painters"—(always the vulgar name for panther—" what bold, dangerous animals they were, hiding among the trees and bushes, and springing upon people as they passed; so, thinking this might be one, I hurried home with the cow as fast as I could, got her under shelter, and then went into the house; pulling the leather string that fastened the door inside. Our cabin had also an opening. where the window should have been, but it had no glass in it, only a board shutter outside, which l also drew in and fastened, and then felt tolerably safe; still it was lonely for me and my little baby, up there in that great forest. After a while it began to rain and get dark—so dark that you could not see an inch before you—when, all at once, there was the most fearful screech or yell just outside, enough to make one's very ears tingle. I thought to be sure the painter would be right in, for the door was hung with leather hinges, and I knew that one bound against it would fling it wide open; so, jumping up, I pushed the table against it, and piled the chairs on the top of that for greater security; this done, I went up into the loft, where there was a little opening that I could get my head out, and what do you think I saw?"

"What?" cried Debby, almost breathless with terror and emotion.

"Why nothing more or less than the painter. There he was, and he must have had his fore feet on the low fence that went round the garden, for I could see his eyes like two live coals glowing in the darkness. Now, if there is anything upon earth to scare one, it is a fierce, dangerous animal like this. Bears and wolves are not half so terrible; and I can tell you, I trembled from head to foot while he sat there and eyed me for more than an hour, every once in a while howling out in a way that made the woods ring again."

"Well, what then?" cried Peter, who, with his wife, the man-servant, and maid, sat with open eyes and ears drinking in every word that fell from her lips.

" Why then," said the woman, "he went away, and I heard no more of him that night. The next day my husband came home, and he said a painter had been shot near one of the clearings below, and I expected it was the same one which had paid me a visit."

"This is a terrible region," said Debby, who for the first time began to realize the full horrors of her situation. "Do, Peter, let us go back home."

"Pho," cried Peter, holding out his brawny arms, and pointing to the two loaded rifles hanging over the mantelpiece, "you will never be without sufficient protection."

"I do not think the wild varmints harbor much so near the settlements either," chimed in their visitor.

At this moment, a cheerful " Gee up, Dobbin," was heard outside; and, running to the door, the woman espied her husband on his return from the mill. Be was trudging along by his wagon, in the gathering darkness, determined to reach home that night. Peter ran out to call him, and little persuasion induced him to "tie up" and remain with them until morning. Debby and her maid bustled about to get him something comfortable for supper; and, after this was over, he sat until a very late hour before the pile of blazing pine-knots, relating, to a most attentive audience, the different adventures which had befallen him during the years he had spent in the woods. When preparing to start in the morning, ho promised Debby that he would make a door to the house, as she said she would "feel easier in her mind." And here, for the present, we will leave them.

In the course of a few years, under the excellent management of Allan, connected with his laborious industry, everything pertaining to his farm began to give evidence of abundance and comfort. His fences were in good order; his trees thrifty; his cattle sleek and well-fed; his granaries overflowing; and, when he found leisure to ornament, the whitewashed cottage exhibited an appearance of Arcadian beauty. It stood on a plat of green level sward, which Peter inclosed with a rude fence, also whitewashed. Several forest-trees had been allowed to remain; and these flung their broad, green arms in many fantastic and protecting shapes over the lowly roof. voce bushes, sweet briers, and a few flowering shrubs, also shed their sweetness here; and, to judge by their notes of rejoicing, made glad the heart of many a bird. At the back door, a stream swept gently past, at the distance of a few hundred yards; and within the inclosure of the yard, shadowed by the foliage of a couple of huge trees, the little spring-house presented quite a picturesque appearance: it was supplied by a fountain, where the water dripped constantly over the moss-covered stones, with a cool, plashing sound. Here, under s low, projecting roof, the active, neat-handed Debby kept her well-scoured crock-covers and shining pans, arranged on shelves in just and gradual order. Here the buckets of foaming milk were brought; and here the luscious golden butter was prepared for market. Amid the abundance and independence of their new condition, there was little cause to regret the enjoyments of the place they had forsaken. The settlement near them was gradually enlarging, and could boast a church; while, on a still morning, its bell might be distinctly heard at the farm - house, calling to the house of prayer. There was also a school, where the children could be taught all that was deemed necessary for them to know; and a public house, where Allan could while away a few hours much to his satisfaction. He was not what is styled a drinking character; but he was very social in his disposition, and could enjoy a joke with the best. Coming from "across the water," and having seen a good deal of the world, he was looked upon with respect; and there was a degree of deference paid to the opinions he chose to express, which was highly flattering. On the evening in which the occurrence took place with which we have headed our little story, Peter had tarried, with some acquaintances, in the landlord's bar-room until after ten o'clock, when, knowing that Debby would "sit up" for him, and the idea of a curtain lecture, perhaps, looming out indistinctly in his mind, he then started for home in considerable of a hurry. The night was a bright and beautiful one, for the moon was full; and, as he could see every object distinctly, he determined to take a nearer cut. The distance by the highway was two miles; but, by going through the fields, he could shorten it half n mile; and, as the ground was frozen, and there were openings through each fence, left for the sake of convenience in hauling in grain, this route was quite as agreeable as the other. He started, as we have before said, at a brisk pace; and had proceeded nearly or quite half way, when he heard a howl, accompanied by a crashing sound, on the side of the field nearest the forest. It was but a moment more, when an enormous panther, with tail erect and glowing eyeballs, sprang into view. Peter hazarded but one glance of terror at the ferocious brute, which, doubtless, half maddened by the pangs of hunger, was now in full pursuit:; and, giving the reins to his horse, he started at the top of its speed. As it chanced, he was riding an English mare of uncommon strength and action. She was, as "Jemmy Joyce" would express it, "every inch a Tartar." Seeming, with unerring instinct, to comprehend the state of the. case, and bristling with terror, the animal put forth its utmost powers. She dashed onward with her terrified rider; and, as there was no time to look for the openings, cleared the first fence in a style which would have brought down thunders of applause on any steeple chase in the United Kingdom. But there were yet three fields, with two fences to surmount: the last of these was the orchard, separated, by a lane of fifteen or twenty feet, from the paling which inclosed the yard. Allan, who had recovered his presence of mind, now cheered his gallant horse, and sped onward with the rapidity of the wind: but the panther was close behind; he could hear his quick bounds, and plainly distinguish the angry snarl which seemed to indicate a fear that his prey would escape him. Another fence was gained, and nothing but the orchard remained to be crossed. Peter knew that his horse was taxed to the utmost; yet the brute was evidently gaining on him, and one moment's flagging in their headlong course, or one false step, and a horrible death was inevitable. Happily, no such accident occurred. In frantic haste, he reached the last barrier. It was high and difficult; but, with s glorious effort, his mare surmounted it; and she was in the yard at the moment the monster in their rear leaped the enclosure of the orchard. In the twinkling of an eye, Peter had thrown the reins over the neck of his horse; and, leaving it to shift for itself, dashed into the house. Here he found the family awaiting hi. arrival; and, taking down the two rifles he, with the hired man., sallied forth to see to the fate of the "bonnie gray" which had carried him so bravely They found the trembling animal had escaped to the barn-yard; but the panther, doubtless alarmed by the light emitted from the opening of the door, had taken itself off. The next morning, on examining the tracks made by its feet in the sandy soil of the lane, they discovered it to have been ore of the largest size. Peter had been so thoroughly frightened, that you may be sure Debby did not have to lecture him soon again for staying away so late at night. As for the mare—he always declared lie owed his life to her matchless speed—she roamed the greenest of pastures, and continued the rarest of pets until the end of her days.

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