The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-06-12

enough for that; the ball would inevitably
have passed her lie dared not make the
slightest movement lest he should awake her.
Nothing broke the deep silence but the breath
ofthe panther and the beating of her henri
Twice he put his hand upon his scimetar, but
the difficulty ofpenetratng her hard rough
skin, made him relinquish his project. To
attempt her destruction, and fail in the at
tempt would be certain death. At all events
he resolved TO wait for daylight. Day came
at last, and showed the jaws of the sleeping
panther covered with blood.
! 'She has eaten lately said the Frenchman
TO himself she will not awake in hunger
She was in truth beautiful monster. The
fur on her throat and legs was of a dazzling
Wilderness; n circle of light dark spots like
velvet, formed pretty bracelets around her
paws-her large muscular tail was beautiful
ly white, terminated by black rings and the
soft smooth fur OH her body was of II glowing
yellow, like unwrought gold, richly shipped
with dark brown spots in the form of roses.
This powerful but tranquil hostess reposed in
as graceful an attitude as puss sleeping on
footstool. Her head stretched on her ner-
vous outsiretched paws, from which her long
white smGlers spread out like silver threads.
! Had she been in cage the Frenchnan
would certainly have admired the perfect
symmetry ofthe dark form, and the rich con-
frast of cDlors that give such an imperial
briIliancy to her robe, hut alone aud i'll her
power, il was very different thing. At the
mouth ofthe cannon he had felt his courage
rising with increasing danger; but it was
sinking now. The cold sweat poured from
his forehead as he saw the sleeping panther
Considering hinselfa dead man, he waited
his fate as courageously as he could. When
the sun rose, the panthersuddenly opened her
| -Stratpba1 ntIt lpr npI 0nSnpI
showing frightfn row Of teeth, and great
tongue us hard and rough as file. She
then shook herself aud began to wash her
bloody paws, passing them from time TO
time over her ears like kitten. very well
DONE thought the soldier, who felt his gaiety
and courage returning-she does her toilette
very handsomely He seized little dagger
which he had taken from one of the Arabs
Come let us wish each other good morning.
thought he. At this moment the panther
turned her head towards him suddenly, and
fixed surprised and earnest gaze upon him.
The fiXedncss other bright metallic eyes,
and their almost indispensable brillancy,
made the soldier tremble, especially when
the mighty beast moved towards him. With
great boldness and presence ofmind. he look
ed her directly in the eye, having often heard
that great power may be obtained over AMI
mails in that manner. When she came up To
him, he gently scratched her head, s. smooth
ed her fur. Her eyes gradually soltened, she
began 10 wag her tail, and at last she purred
like petted cat; but so deep and strong
were her notes ofjoy, that they resonnded
through the cave like the rolling ola church
organ.
The Frcnchman redoubed his caresses,
and when he thought her ferocity was sufli-
cienlly tamed,he attempted TO leave the grotto. !
She made no opposition 10 his going out; but
she soon came bounding after him, lifting up
her back and rubbing against his legs like an
atiectionate kitten. SHE requires a great
deal of'altention, SAID the Frenchman smil- |
ing. He tried to feel her ears and throat and
perceiving she was pleased with it, he began
TO tickle the back OF her head with the point |
of his dagger, hoping TO find II favorable OPP
portunity TO stab her; but the hardness of the
bones made him tremble lest he should not
succeed.
The beautiful Sultanu of the desert SEEM
ed to tempt the courage of her prisoner. ny
raising her head, stretching ont her neck
and rubbing against him. The soldier sud-
denly thought to kill her with one blow, he
must strike her in the throat. He raised his
blade for that plIrpose--but AT that moment
she crouched down at his feet. looking up III
his face with IA strange mixture of affection
and native fierceness. The poor Frenchman
leaned against the tree eating some dates
and casting his eye anXiously around the des-
ert to see if no one was coming to free him
from his terrible companion, whose strange
friendship was so little TO be trusted He Of
fercd to feed her with some nuts and dates,
but she looked upon them with supreme con-
rs if sensible TO his kind
intention, she licked his shoes and purred.
VIII she be so when she gels hungry"
thought the Frencaman. The idea made
him Iremble. He looked at the panther. She
was three feet high and four feet long, with
out including her tail which was nearly three
feet more in length and as round as a great
cudgel
Her head was as big as lions and face
was distinguished by a peculiar expression
ofcunnug. The cold cruelty of the tiger
regned there; but there was likewise some
thing strangely like the countenance of an
artful woman, in the gaiety and tondness OF
the present moment. She seemed like Nero
drunk. She had her fill of blood, and she
wished to frolic. {
During the whole day, he attempted to
walk away, the panther watched him, as
dog does his master; and never suffered him
TO be far out of sight. He discovered the re-
mains of his horse which had been dragged
near the mouth ofthe cavern, and he easily
understood why she had respected his sunl-
bers. ,
Taking courage from the past, he began to
hope he could get along very comfortably I
with his new companion. He laid himself ,
by her, in order to conciliate her good opin- {
ion He patted her neck, and she began to
wag her tail and purr. He took hold OF her ,
paws, felt her ears, and rolled her over the |
grass. She suffered him to do all this; and ,
when he played with her paws, she carefully $
drew 10 her claws, lest she should hurt him. c
The Frenchman again put his hand upon