The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-09

their almost insupportable brilliancy, made the
soldier tremble, especially when the mighty
beast moved toward him. With great boldness
and presence of mind he looked her directly in
the eve having often heard that great power
NAV be obtained over animals in that manner.
When she came up to him. he gently scratched
her head and smoothed her fur Her eyes
gradually softened, she began to wag her tail,
and at last she purred like petted cat; but so
deep and strong were her notes of JOY, that they
resounded through the cave like rolling OF q
church organ.
The Frenchman redoubled his caresses, and
when he thought her ferocity was sufficiently
tanned, he attempted to leave the grotto. The
panther made no opposition to his going out !;
but she came bounding after him, lifting up
her back and rubbing against him like an af-
fectionate kitten "She requires a great deal
of attention. said the Frenchman, smiling. He
tried to feel her ears and throat; and perceiv-
ing that she was pleased with it, he began to
tickle the back of her head with the point of
his dagger, hoping to find favorable opportu-
nifty to stab her: but the hardness of the bones
made him tremble lest he should not succeed.
The beautiful Sultana of the desert seemed
to tempt the courage Of her prisoner, by rails
ing her head, stretching out her neck, and rub
bing against him The soldier suddenly thought
that to kill her with one blow, he must strike
her in the throat He raised his blade for that
purpose-but at that moment she crouched
down at his feet, looking up in his face with a
strange mixture of affection and native fierce
ness The poor Frenchman leaned against the
tree, eating some dates, and casting his eye
anxiousy around the desert to see if no one
30 10
panion, whose strange friendship was so little
to be trusted. He offered to feed her with some
nuts and dates, but she looked upon them with
supreme contempt However, as if sensible of
his kind intentions, she licked his shoes and
purred
"Will she be so when she gets hungry aD
thought the Frenchman
The idea made him tremble He looked at
the size of the panther. She was three feet
high and four feet long, without including her
tail, which was nearly three feet more in length
and Us round as great cudgel.
Her head was as big as a lions and her face
was distinguished by peculiar expression of
cunning The cold cruelty of the panther
reigned there but there was likewise some
thing strangely like the countenance cf an.aptt
full woman, in the gaiety and fondness of the
she wished to frolic.
During the whole day, if he attempted to
walk away, the panther watched him as a dog
does his master, and never suffered him to be
far out OF sight. He discovered the remains of
his horse, which had been dragged near the
mouth OF the cavern and he easily understood
why she had respected his slumbers.
Taxing courage from the past he began to
no oil Co. l.
his new companion. He laid himself beside
her, in order to conciliate her good opinion.
He patted her neck, and she began to wag her
tail and purr. He took hold of her paws, felt
her cars, rolled her over the grass. She suffer
ed him to do all this; and when he played with
her paws she carefully drew in her claws lest
she should hurt him. The Frenchman again
put his hand upon his weapon, with view of
plunging it into her throat but he was still
held by the fear that the animal would kill
him in her agony. Besides, he really began to
have an unwillingpess to kill her in the lone
ly desert she seemed to him like friend. His
of her beauty, gentleness graceful
activity, became mixed with less and less of
terror. He actually named her Mignonne in
Of lady whom he had loved in
his youth, and who was abominably 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
" Mignonneo
When the sun went down, she uttered deep
and melancholy cry
"She is well educated" exclaimed the sol
der. She has learnt to say her evening
prayers
He rejoced to see the panther stretch herself
out in drowsy attitude
THAT is right my pretty blande," said he.
" You had better 60 to sleep first"
He trusted to his own activity to escape dur
ing her slumber He waited patiently; and
when she seemed sound asleep, he walked vigor-
ously toward the Nile. But he had not gone
a quarter of a league over the sand when he
heard the panther bounding after him, uttering
at intervals long, sharp cry.
"Of truth" said he cher friendship is very
flattering; it must be her first love-" Before
she came up the Frenchman fell into one of
those dangerous traps of loose sand, from which
it is impossible to extricate ones self The
panther seized him by the collar, and with in
credible strength brought him to the other side
of the ditch at a single bound.
"DIy dear Mignonne!n exclaimed the soldier,
caressing her with enthusiasm, sour friendship
is for life or DEATH
He retraced his steps, Now, that he had a
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 succor. 1t was his
intention to have watched during the night but
sleep overpowered him. When he awoke, Mig
nome was gone. He assembled the eminence
to look for her, and soon perceived her at
distance, clearing 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 soldier patted her on
the neck, and talked to her as he would to
domestic animal: All, all, Miss! you have
been eating some of the Maugrabin Amt you
Never mind; there are worse ami
mails 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 moren
This singular animal was 80 fond of caresses
and play, that if her companion sat many min
utes without noticing her. she would put her
paw in his lap to attract attention. 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 hisweary hours by counting the spots
ON her golden fur and observing how beaut-
fully they were shaded; she showed no displeas-
ure even when he held her by the tail to count
the splendid white risgs that glittered in the
sunshine like precious stones 1t was Il pleasure
to look upon the graceful outlines Of her FORM
and the majestic carriage of her head. She
delighted him most when in frolic. Her ex-
treme gracefulness and agility, as she glided
along jumped, bounded and rolled over and
darling up the rocky eminence at her swftest
speed, she would stop suddenly and beautifully,
a. the Frenchman called {" Mignonne.n
One day very large bird sailed through the
air over their hoads In the desert anvtb;no