The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-08-29

which know ii once 10 81 3l3o cry Of the
|paniher, than which, ! weti1d sether have
met II general assembly 81 the wolves q
Tie f1reet. Notwifhstandine lh6 Increase
.covery, Il syaiisd ia so'iiaiS IA I could
soon distinguish tIle flisll;dg Of Ieeses and
cracking Of dry bfanck6s, and fesently
after, the measured bo0pds - DE psnther
struck plain upon my earand q my heart !.
When Il seemed to- my frightened fancy
that could almost feel the monsters hot
breath upon me, and see in the dark, the
glare a his eyeballs, procured atemporary
reprieve by dropping one quarter of my fine
buck, which had intended for far differ
ent purpose. However, we'll knew that
be would delay only to return with lncreas-
ed ferocity after his repast. | quickened
myspace, il that were possible, straining
every nerve with faint hope Of gaining
the edge Of the wood before was again
placed inso dangerous vicinity to my pur-
poscs, bat Ia vain: / could soon distinguish
asain his heightened bounds, each one
bringing him nearer and nearer.
When he approached SO near me that
considered him too familiar, again baited
him with my venison. This did till my
load was gone; and, instead fbeing satisfi-
ed, the fierce animal seemed but to have
sharpened his appetite for richer repast.-
When | had dropped the last remaining frag-
-ment, my means Of defence or escape seem
cd to have been exhausted. However, |
resolved to climb with all haste into the first
tree that would admit Of it, and defend my
self as well as could with the sole charge
in my rifle. By good fortune Immediately
discovered one which answered ms purpose
very well. It was Of middling size, and
destitute Of branches for some twenty or thir-
ty feet from the ground. found no DIFF
ficulty in climbing it with my gun in hand,
as my short sojourn in the country had made
me quito an adept at many such indispen-
sable accomplishments.
had no sooner seated myself on the first
bosgh, ready with my gun, than could hear
my late acquaintance bounding forward a.
gain, and soon, by the dim light thai had en-
abled me to discover the tree, discerned his
form alternately ascending and descending,
leaping high into the air, and it seemed to
me, full twenty feet forward each time. 1t
did not in the least puzzle his sagacitv to
comprehend that the trail he was following
came to very abrupt conclusion; and after
running several times round the tree, be &
A-ssse~ So , ~asss.sscsr uUWH ueneatn, fais-
ing such tremendous yelp that in spite Of
all my attempts to wear brave heart and
yield as little as possible to terror, this with
the long and quavefing cry Of the approach
ing pack, could not but runlike iron through
my blood. Much TO my establishment, the
wolves seemed content to occupy the back
ground. This was soon explained by the
appearance of another panther. The two
formidable enemies, occupied the ground
alone, while the murderous but cowardly
Eelves skunk back into the obscurity of the
weeds.
Upon this new arrival, the two seemed
for short time to be holding an internal
council. Soon one of them started and ran
of, while the other remained crouching be-
meath the tree. was at loss to conpre-
bend precisely what this movement might
import, though could in any case only le-
main quiet, with my rifle ready poised. 1t
was difficult to resist the temptation Of firing
at the remaining one, but resolved to pre-
serve my last charge in case Of a greater
emergency.
now had leisure to plan every method
lofescape that my invention could devise.
Cher reflections by no means SO pleasant
would persist in intruding themselves. l had
retained this position but few minutes
when heard slight crackle of dry branch
ia another tree distant two or three rods
| from the one Twas in. darted my eyes
in that direction, and there, crouched on a
| limb little higher than the one rested on,
1 could plainly see the other panther in the
lSery act Of springing upon me. Quick as
ffIoopht. / drew my rife and fired. The sud-
den glare shot far into the bosom of dim
might, and Lit up the woods for moment like
| q Fash Of lightning. / could fancy it re.
f1ected from i thousand wild eyes that were
cleaning ID anxious expectancy upon me
But there was slight opportunity for re-
Election. 40 the panther, Vi the moment
fired, wss. the point Of springing, the i'm
petus sent lin forward and, downward, 81
that he struck his claw upon the limb where
my feel sesfSd. For Z moment he strug
gled 70 retain his grasp, and then fell dyini
70 tha ground. The other panther aet up
Idisual howl, and then started of in simila
manner viii he iirst and, doubted not, win
similar intcniioo. As SON therefore, as b.
WAS out of sight, Islipped hastily from III
Ifraa threw aW8v myrtle. and ntafted wit