The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-03-21

tifhu, Nllen she saw The ilfref lrONn and
glafing eyes of a female panther. Gxed on
them IN hnfrld malignity, aud threatening
Instant destruction.
Let rs Ay !" exclaimed Elizabeth,
graspug the arm of i.ouisa, whose form
yielded like melting snow, and sunk bicless
10 the earth
There was mol single feeling in ihr
temperament of Elizabeth Temple, that
could prompt her Ia desert companion
IN such extremity aud she sell on her
knees, by the SIDE Of the inanimate Louisa,
tearing from the person of her friend. with
an instructive readiness, such parts Of her
dress as might ohaliuct her respiration,
aud encouraging their only safeguard the
dog, Al the same Time, by The sounds of her
voice.
Courage, Brave she cried, her own
tones h'ginning 10 tremble, courage cou-
rage, good Brave"
quarter grown cub, that had hitherto
been seen now appeared dropping from
the branches of sapling that grew under
the beech which held It's dam. This igno.
rant but vicious creature approached near
IL the dog Initiating the actions aud sounds
olits parent hut exhibiting strange mix
torc OF the payinluess of u kitten, with the
leruclty of IT, race. Standing on its hind
legs, II would rend The bark OF tree with
lls fore paws, aud play all the antics Of a
cat, for moment, and then, by lashiog IL
self with lis tail, growing and scratching
the earth, II would attempt the maniluata-
lions or anger that rendered its parent 20
terrific.
All this lime Brave stood firm and un.
dalnted, bis short tail erect, his body
drawn back on It's Launches, aud his eyes
following the movements nf both dam and
cub. II every gambol played by the lat
ter, II approached higher 10 The dog. the
growing Of the three becoming more hor-
nd at each moment, until the Younger
beast, overlapping It's Intended bounds inll
directly before the masalf There was n
moment OF fearful cries and struggles, but
! lhey ended as soon ds commenced, by the
| cub appearing in the air. hurled from the
jaws 81 Brave with violence thai SEM il
against tree 81 lofeibly as 10 render il
completely senselcss.
Elizabeth witnessed The short struggle.
aud her blood was warming with the Fri
utnpli ol The dog, when she saw the form
OF The old panther IN the air, spfmgng
twenty feet from the branch of The beech
10 the back Of the masiiH. No words of
ours can describe the fury of the conflict
that followed. II WIS II confused struqelp
ON the dried leaves, accompanied l., loud
aud terrible cries, barks aud growl.. Miss
Temple continued on her knees brndine
over the form Of Louisa. her eyes fixed on
the animals, with an interest 80 horrid, aud
yet 81 intense, that she almost forgot her
own stake IN the result. So rapid aud Vi.
gorous were the hounds nj the inmbits nj
of the forest, that its active frame seem, Il
constantly III the air, While the dog nDbly
faced his foe AT each successive leap.
When the panther lighted on the Shout.
ders OF the mastin, which was its constant
aim, old Brave, though torn with her Ia
Ions, and stained with his own blood, that
already flowed from u dozen wounds,
would shake OF his furious foe Ike fca-
Their, and rearing ON his hind lpr5 rush to
the fray again with his jips distcnded,
aud dannllcss eye. But age, aud his
pamperrd life, greatly disqualified the no.
Bile masiIil for such a struggle In every
lhing but courage, he WAS only the vcsiige
Of what he had once been. A higher
hound Than ever raised the wary and fun.
Gus beast far beyond the dog, who was
making desperate but frnitleas dash AZ
her. from which she alghted in u favorable
position on the back Of her aged Toe. For
a single moment only, could the panther
remain therr, the great strength Of the dog
returning with n convnlsive effort. But
Elizabeth saw rs Brave fastened his teeth
~ lac. tI.. ,,G "a. II Al
OF brass around his neck, which had been
glltterug throughout the fray, was Of the
color OF blood, aud directly that his frame
was sinking TO the earth, where il soon lay
prosirate and helpless. Several mighty
efforts Of the wild cat 10 extricata herself
from tI.e jaws OF the dog followed, but
they were frllitess, until the mastiT turn
ed on his back, his lips collaI scd, and his
teeth lOnsened, when tire short commissions
and stiffness that succeeded announced the
death of poor Brave.
Elizabeth pow 10y wholly nj the mercy
of the beast. There is said 10 be some
thing in the front of the image Of the Maker,
that daunts the hearts of the inferior beings
of his creation and it would seem that
SOME such pOHcr in the present instance
suspended the threatened blow. The ewes
Of the monster and the kpeeilng maiden
met, for an instant, when The former stoop-
ed To examine her fallen foe, next To scent
her lnckIess cub From the latter exami-
nation, il turned, however, with its eyes
apparently emitting flashes Of fire, its
tail lashmg its sides furiously, and its
claws projecting for inches from its broad
feet
Miss Temple did not or could not move.
Her hands were clasped in the attitude Of
prayer, bat her eyes were still drawn to
her terrible enemy her checks were
blanehed to the wilderness Of marble, and
her lips were slightly separated with hor-
rOr. The moment seemed now to have
L.. =.