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

noise. he raised nlmseiI ana HSteheu aiu "
amid the deep silence he heard the loud
breathing of some powerful animal. The
sound fell upon his heart like ice The hair
started upon his head, and he strained his
eyes TO the utmost TO perceive the object OF
his terror. He caught the glimpse OF two
faint yellow lights at distance from bim !;
he thought it might be an optical ceiuslon
produced by his own earnest gaze but, as
the rays of the moon entered the chinks OF
the cave. he distinctly saw an enormous an
imal lying about two feet from him. There
was not sufficient light to distinguish what
species of animal it was lit might be hon,
tiger, or crocodile; but the strong odor
that filled the cave left nD doubt OF The pres
ence of some large and terrible creature.
When the moon rose SO as to shine d.
rectly upon the. opening in the grotto, its
beams lighted the beautiful spotted hide OF
a huge panther The lion Of Egypt slept
with her headupon her paws, with the com
Portable dignity of great house dog. Her
eyes, which opened from time to time, were
now closed. Her face was turned towards
the Frenchman. A thousand confused
thoughts passed through the soldiers bosom.
His first idea Was to shoot his enemy through
the head but he saw there was not room
enough for that; the ball would inevitably
have passed her. He dared not make the
slightest movement, lest he should awake
her nothing broke the deep silence but the
breath of the panther and the beating OF his
heart. Twice he put his hand upon his
scimetar, but the difficulty of penetrating
her hard rough skin made him relinquish
the project. To attempt her destruction, and
fail in the attempt would be instant death.
At all events, he resolved to wait for day
light. Day came at last and showed the
Jaws of the sleeping panther covered With
blood.
"She has eaten lately" said the French
man to himself. "She will not awaken IN
hunger
She was in truth beautiful monster
The fur on her throat and legs was OF daz-
zling whiteness circle of little dark spots,
like velvet formed pretty bracelets round
her paws her large muscular tail was beau
| tiful white, terminated by black rings; and
the soft smooth fur on her body was OF a
glowing yellow, like unwrought gold, rich
| " shaded with dark brown srotsin the form
Of roses,
| This powerful but tranquil hostess repos-
ed in as graceful an attitude as apuss sleep
| ing on footstool. Her head stretched on
nervous outstretched paws, from which her
long white smelcrs spread out like silver
threads. Had she been in cage, the
Frenchman would certainly have admired
the perfect symmetry of her dark form, and
| the rich contrast of colors that gave such an
imperial bril,iancy to her robe; but alone,
and in her power, il was different thing.
l-At-the mouth of the canton he had lelt his
courage rising with increasing danger, but
| it was sinking now. The cold sweat pour
ed from his forehead as he saw the sleep
inr panther. Considering himself dead
man, he waited his fate as courageou"ly as
he could When the sun rose, the panther
suddenly opened her eyes, stretched out her
paws and gasped, showing frightful row
of teeth, and great tongue as hard and as
rough as file. She then shook herself,
and began to wash. her bloody paws, passing
them from time to time over her ears like
kitten. Every well DONE" thought the
soldier, who felt his gaiety and courage re-
turning-:ishe does her toilet handsomely"
He selzed h.tle dagger which he had Ia
ken from one of the Arab>-''Come let us
wish each other good morning, thought ne;
At this moment the panther tuned her head
towards him suddenly, and fixed surprised
and earnest gaze upon him.
The fxedness OF her bright metallic eyes,
and their almost insupportable hrllliancy'
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 eye, having often
heard that great power may 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
a rolling of church organ.
The Frenchman redoubled lis caresses,
and when lie thought her ferocity was suftl-
ciently tanned, he attempted TO leave the grot-
to. 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 alftctionate kitten. "She requires
a great deal OF attention. said the French
man, smiling. He tried to feel her ears
and throat; and perceiving 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 opportunity to
stab her, but the hardness of the bones
made him tremble lest he should not sue
ceed.
The beautiful Sultana of the desert seem
ed to tempt the courage of the prisoner, by
raising her lead, stretching out her neck,
and rubbing against him. The soldier sud
denly thought that, to kill her with one blow,
he must strike her in the throat He raised
his blade forhat purpose-but at that moment
she crouched down at his feet, looked up
in his face with strange mixture of ailec-
ton and native 6erceness. The poor French
man leaned against the tree eating some
dates, and casting his eye anxiously around
the desert to zee if 20 one was coming to
free him from his terrible companion, whose
STRANGE friendship was so little to be trust
ed. He offered to feed her with some nuts
and dates, but she looked upon them with
supreme contempt. However, as if SEN
sible of his kind intentions, she licked his
shoes and purred.
"Wiil she be so when she gets hungry -
thought the Frenchman.
The idea made him tremble. He looked
at the size Of the panther. She was three