Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-11-05

nance OF an arllul "oiaii, III TIC Sdloty OIL"
fondness of the present moment. She had
her fill of blood, and she wished to frolic.
During the whole day, if he attempted to
walk away, the panther watched him as a
doc does his master, and never suffered him
to be far out of sight. He discovered the
remains of his horse, which had been drag
ged near the mouth of the cavern, and he
easily understood why she had respected his
slumhers.
Taking courage from the past, he began
to hope he could get along very comfortably
with his new companion. He laid himself
beside her in order to conciliate her good O.
pinion. He patted her neck, and she be-
gan to wag her tail and purr. He took hold
of her paws, felt her ears, rolled her over
the grass. She suffered him to do all this
and when he played with her paws, she
carefully drew in her claws, lest she should
I hurt him. The Flenchman again put his
hand upon his weapon, with view Of fplungg-
ing it in her throat, but he was still held
bv the fear that the animal would kill him
in her agony. Besides, he really began to
have an unwillngness TO kill her. In the
lonely desert, she seemed to HIM like
friend. His admiration Of her beauty, gen.
tleness, graceful activity, became mixed
with less and less of terror. He actually
named her Mignonne, in remembrance OF a
lady he had loved in his youth, and who
was abominaby jealous Of him. By the
end of the day, he had become so familiar
with his dangerous situation, that he was
almost in love with its exciting perils. He
had even taught the panther her name
She looked up in his face when he called
"Mignonne."
When the sun went down, she uttered
deep and melancholy cry.
"She is we'll educated" exclaimed the
soldier. "She has learnt to say her even
/ ing prayers" ;"
He rejoiced tosee the panther stretch
herself out in drowsy attitude.
"That's right my pretty blonde, said he.
"You had better 60 to sleep first"
He trusted to his own activity to escape
during her slumber.' lie waited patiently !;
and when she seemed sound asleep, he
walked vigorously toward the Nile. But he
had not gone quarter of league over the
sand, when he heard the panther bounding
after him, ,uttering al intervals long, sharp
cry,
'"Of truth" sand he, cher friendship is
very fattering; ii must be her first love"
Before she came up the Frenchman fell in
10 one of those dangerous traps of loose
sand, from which it is impossible to extri-
cate ones self. The panther seized him by
the collar, and with incredible strength
brought hin to the other side of the ditch at
singe bound
"My dear Mignonne exclaimed the
soldier ,carressing her with enthusiasm, "our
friendship is for life or DEATH ~.
He retraced his steps. Now,th he had
creature that loved him, to whom he could
talk, it seemed as if the desert were peopled.
Having made a signal flag of his shirt he
concluded to wait patiently for human sue
/ cor. 1t was his intention to have watched
during the night but sleep overpowered
him. When he awoke, Mignonne was gone.
He ascended the emincnce to look for her,
and soon perceived her at distance, clear
ing the desert with long, high bounds.
When receiving his caresses, she purred
aloud, and fixed her eyes upon him with
even more fondness than usual. The SOL
dier patted her on the neck, and talked to
Ter as he would to domestic animal: "Ah,
ah, Miss you have been eating some OF the
! Maugrabin. Amt you ashamed? Never
mind /; ere are worse animals than you
are. But please don't take fancy to grind
up Frenchman. IF you do, you won't
have me to love you any more"
TIL, ,,;, 81 ,r,S CO fond Of cares
ses and play, that if her companion sat
many minutes without noticing her, she
would put her paw in his lap to attract at
tention. Several days passed thus.
The panther was always successful in her
excursions for food, and always returned
full of affection and Joy. She became used
to all the infections of the soldiers 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 beautifully they were shad-
ed;, she showed no displeasure even when
he held her by the tail to count the splen-
did white rings, that glittered in the sun
shine like precious stones. 1t was pleas
ure TO look upon the graceful outlines OF her
form, and the majestic carriage of her head.
She delighted him most when in frolic.-
Her extreme gracefu!ness and agility, as
she glidcd along, jumped, bounded, and roll
cd over and over, was truly surprising
When she was darting up the rocky emil
nence at her swiltest speed, she would stop
suddenly and beautifully as the Frenchman
called "Mignonne."
One day very large bird sailed through
the air over their heads. In the desert, rt,any-
thing that has life is intensely interesting.
The Frenchman Quilted the panther to
watch the flight Of the bird, as he slowly &
heavily famed the air. In few minutes
Sultana began TO growl. "She is certainly
jealous" thought the soldier, as he looked
at her fierce and glittering eyes. They gaz-
ed inteligently at each other. and the proud
coquette leaped as she felt his hand upon
her head her eyes flashed like tightening,
and she shut them hard.
"The creature must have soul, "exclaim-
ed the Frenchman..
This account was given me by the soldier
himself, while | was admiring the docility
of the powerful animal in the menagerie al
Paris.
/ 81 did not know" continued The narrator
''what had done to displease Mignonne sc
much. or whether the creature was in
mere sport, but she turned and snapped hel
teeth at me, and seized hold of my leg
/ She did it without violence, but thinking
she was about TO devour me, plunged my