The Arkansas advocate., 1831-09-14

He trusted to his own activity to es
 cape during her slumber. He waited
 patiently; and when she seemed sound asleep, he walked vigorously toward the
 Nlle. But he had not gone :. gaartef
 Of league over the sand, when he heard
 the panther bounding after him utterine
 at intervals loud sharp cry. 2
 '0t truth said he, sher friendship. is
 very flatterlng; l must be her first love.
 Before she came up, the Frenchman
 iell into one of those dangerous traps ol
 loose sand from which it is impossible 10 extflcate ones self. The panther seiz-
 ed hlm by the collar, and with incredi-
 bic strength brought Ii him safe to the o;.,. CT sIde of the ditch, at single bound.
 My dear Mignonnet' p exclaimed the soldier, carressing her with enthusiasm our friendship is for life and death.'
 He retraced his steps. Now, he had creature that loved him, and to whom he could talk, itseemed as if the desert were peopled. Having made a signal flag of his shirt, he concluded to wait for human succour. 1t was his inten- ton to have watched during the night. but sleep overpowered him. When he awoke, Mignonne was gone. He as cended the emnence to look for her, and soon perceived her at a distance clear Ing the desert, with those long high bounds peculiar to her species. She arrived with bloody jaws. When re- hls caresses, she purred aloud. and hxed her eyes upon him with even more fondness than usual. Tho eoldier patted her neck, and talked to her as he would 10 q domestic animal, sAh. ah Miss! you have been eating some of the Ant you ashamed? New CT nind-they afe worse animals than you are. But please don't take fancy to grind up a Frenchman. If you do. you wont have me te love you any more.
 This singular animal was so fond oi caresses and play, thatifher companion sat many minutes without noticing her. siie would put her paw on his lap to at tract attention. Several days passed thus.
 The panther was successful in her ex-. cursions for food, and always returned full of affection and joy, she became sod ta Il 4i,@ :ss q @--: 'r .1 zi ,s-=- voice, and understood the expressions of his face. Sometimes he amused his weary hours by counting the spots on her golden fur, and observing how beau tlfully they were shaded; she showed no displeasure even when he held her by the tail, to count the splendid black and white rings, that glittered in the like precious stones. It was pleasure to look upon the graceful out lines of her form, the glossy smoothness of her neck, and tbe majestic carriage of her head. But she delighted him most when she was in a frolic. Her ex- treme gracefulness and agility, as she 5lided swiftly along, jumped, bounded, and rolled over and over, was truly sur prising. When she was darting up the rocky eminence at her swiftcst speep, she would stop suddenly and beautiful y, with head erect assoon as the French nan called sMignonne.'
 One day yer. large bird sailed thro' he air over their heads. In the des- srt, any thing that has life is intensely interesting. The Frenchman quilted the panther to watch the flight of the bird, as he slowly and heavily famed | the air. In a few minutes, the Sultana of the Desert began to growl. sShe is certainly jealous,' thought the soldier, as he looked at her fierce and glittering eyes. They gazed inteiligibly at each other-and the proud coquet, leaped as she felt his hand upon her head her eyes flashed like lightning, and shut them hard.
 "The creature must have soul!' ex- claimed the Frenchman.
 This account was given me by the soldier himself, while was admiring the docility of the powerful animals in the menagerle at Paris. i do not know continued the narrator, what had done to dis,;sease Mignonne so much--or whether the creature was merely in sport-but she turned and snapped her teeth at me and seized hold of my leg. She did it without violence-but think ing she was about to devour me, l plunged my dagger into her neck. The poor creature rolled over, uttesing q cry that froze my heart. She made no attempt to revenge my blow, but looked mildly upon me in her dying agony. l would have given all the world to have
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