Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-08-06
THE PANTHER's DEN.

da, had been for some weeks annoyed by
tAe mysterious disappearance of the cattle
and goats which constitute almost the only
wealth of these rude countrymen; and the
belated herdsman was frequently startled by
the terrible half-human cry of the dreaded
panther and the next morning some one OF
the souatters would find himself minus a
number of cloven-feet. About this time, |
happened in the settlement on hunting
excurslca, in company with another son OF
Nimrod, and learning the state of affairs,
resolved, if possible, to rid the clearing
of its pest, and bind new laurels on our
brows. The night before our arrival, heif-
er had been killed within few rods OF a
cabin, and the carcass dragged off towards
the swamp, some two miles distant, leaving
a broad trail to mark the destroyer's path !;
this being pointed out to US, Ned and my
self resolved to execute our enterprise with
out delav,-this was to "beard the lion in
his dem" Having carefully charged our
riAed and pistols, and seen that our bowles
were as Keen as razors, we set out on the
trail which soon brought US to the edge OF
Bayou Manlatte swamp, which covers
surface of some thousands of acres, being a
dense muddy hammock of teti, bay, magno-
La, cane, grape-vines, &c. A perpetual
twilight reigned beneath the dense foliage
supported by the rank soil, and cur hearts
beat few more pulsations to the minute,
as we left the scorching glare OF the noon
day sun, and plunged into the gloomy fast
nesses of the bear and alligator; to these
latter gentlemen, whose clumsy forms were
sprawling through the mud on every side,
we gave no further heed other than to keep
without the range of the deadly sweep OF
their powerful tails, with which they bring
their unsuspecting prey within reach of their
saw.like jaws; the bears we did not happen
to meet, or we should most assuredly have
given them some of the balls designed for
the panthers. Well, we followed the trail
half mile into the swamp, when, on an ell
evated spot, we suddenly encountered the
half-devoured body Of the unfortunate helf-
er, apparently Just deserted by the captors.
We cautiously advanced few PAGES fur
ther over pavement of bones, "clean scrap
ed s. meatless," and entered an open space,
when sight met my eyes which certainly
made me wish myself safe at home, or in
fact anywhere else but where | was. About
twenty-five feet from us we saw, instead OF
one, an old she panther and two cubs near
ly grown, while directly over them, on the
blasted and sloping trunk of an immense
gum-tree, crouched the cold he one of all, y
lashing his sides fercely with his tail, and
snorting and splitting like an enraged cat,
an example which was initiated by the three
below. Here was the dilemma, on the par
ticularly sharp horns of which we found
ourselves most uncomfortably situated. To
retreat. would induce an immediate attack,
the consequences of an advance would be
ditto; so we stood en- tableaur, for brief
second our guns cooked s. aimed, Ned draw
ing bead on the dam. while did the like
by the sire. 1t seemed madness to fire.
We were not long uncertain as to our course,
for the old fellow suddenly bounded from
the trunk full upon me, with deafehmg
roar. l fired as he sprang, and the report
of my piece was re-echoed by that OF Ned's.
l sprang aside, dropping my rifle, and draw
ing my long and heavy knife; 1t was well
| did so, for the mortally wounded beast a.
lighted on the very spot left. He turned
and sprang upon me. avoided the blow
ofhis powerful paw and graphing with him,
rolled on the turf, winding my left arm tight
round his neck, and hugging close to his
body to avoid his teeth and claws, while l
dealt rapid thrusts with my knife. l was
very powerful; but never was IN sit
uation where felt more sensibly the need
of exerting all my muscle. The contest
was soon decided--my knife passing through
the brute's heart
.'And painting from the dreadful close,
And breathless all the champion rose"
And it was full time that | should do so,
for Ned, having put ball through the brain
of the dam, was now manfully battling with
her two cubs; the poor fellow was sore
pressed, streaming with blood from num-
berless scratches, and almost in state of
nature, for the sharp claws of the panthers
had literally undressed him by picce-meal.
His savage assailants, also, bore upon their
bloody hides numerous tokens OF his Prov
ess in welding his bowie. Their system of
attack seemed to be to spring suddenly upon
him striking with their paws, and as they
did So in most instances, simultaneously, IL
was impossible for him to defend himself,
strong and active as he was; and had no as
sistancc been at hand, they would undoubt-
edlv have gained the victory. 1t was a
brave sight though, to see the tall, strong
hunter meeting their attacks undauntedly,
standing with his left arm raised to defend
his head and throat, and darting his bloody
knife into their tough bodies as he threw
them from him, but to meet the next mo-
ment their renewed efforts for his dcstruc-
ton All this l caught at one glance, as l
rushed to his rescue. "Ned!" shouted l,
mad and reckless with excitement, 'take
the one on your leftl" And we threw our
selves upon them. met my antagonist in
his onward leap, and making desperate
blow at him, my wrist struck his paw, and
the knife flew far from my hand. There
was nothing else for me to do but to seize
him by the loose skin ofthe neck with both
hands, and hold on like "grim death, keep
inc him at arms length, while his paws
beat tattoo to double quick time on my
breast and tody, stripping my garments into
ribbons in a most workmanlike manner, and
amenting my sensitive skin with vari-
ety of lines and characters, done in red
a process of personal embellishments which
did not care to prolong, however, beyond
when I could soonest put stop to the ope-
ration. As | was debating how to attain so
desirable an end, the remembrance Of the
small riae-pistol in my belt, and which, till
now, in the hurry of the conflict, had for
~ 11a.l., Hns hnd ] ,,,,..., ~. s., i a,,L