ilderness at that time. Through
these woods this almost aboriginal hunter was often compelled to pass
to the Susquehanna, for various necessaries, and among the rest no
small quantity of whiskey, as he was of very intemperate habits. On
one of these visits, in the midst of summer, with his smooth-bore
always on his shoulder, knife, hatchet, &c., in their proper place, he
had nearly penetrated the distance, when he became weary, and having
come to the summit of a ridge (sometime in the afternoon) which
overlooks the vale of the Susquehanna, he selected a convenient place
in the shade, as it was hot, for the rays of the sun from the west
poured his sultry influence through all the forest, where he lay down
to rest a while among the leaves, after having taken a drink from his
pint bottle of green glass, and a mouthful of cold Johnney cake from
his pocket.

[Footnote A: Wait's Settlement is said to have been in the vicinity of
what now is known as North Franklin.]

"In this situation he was soothed to drowsiness by the hum of insects,
and the monotony of passing winds among the foliage around him, when
he soon unwarily fell asleep with his gun folded in his arms. But
after a while he awoke from his sleep, and for a moment or two still
lay in the same position, as it happened, without stirring, when he
found that something had taken place while he had slept, which had
situated him somewhat differently from the manner in which he first
went to sleep. On reflecting a moment, he found he was entirely
covered over, head and ears, with leaves and light stuff, occasioned,
as he now suspected, either by the sudden blowing of the wind, or by
some wild animal. On which account he became a little disturbed in his
mind, as he well knew the manners of the panther at that season of the
year, when it hunts to supports its young, and will often cover its
prey with leaves and bring its whelps to the banquet. He therefore
continued to lie perfectly still, as when he first awoke; he thought
he heard the step of some kind of heavy animal near him; and he knew
that if it were a panther, the distance between himself and death
could not be far, if he should attempt to rise up. Accordingly, as he
suspected, after having lain a full minute, he now distinctly heard
the retiring tread of the stealthy panther, of which he had no doubt,
from his knowledge of the creature's ways. It had taken but a few
steps however, when it again stopped a longer tim