Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1851-10-28
BY r. T. VAN HORN.

animal. The sound fell upon his heart
like ice. The hair started upon his head,
and he strained his eyes 10 the utmost TO
perceive the object Of his terror. Hecuught
The glimpse of TWO faint yellow lights at a
distance from him; he thought i. might be
an optical delusion produced by his own
earnest gaze; but as The rays Of The moon
entered The chinks Of The cave he distinctly
saw an enormous animal lying about two
feet from him. There was not sufficient
ligh, to distinguish what species Of animal
it was; il might be lion, tiger, or croco.
die; but the strong odor thai filled the cave
left no doub, of the presence of some large
and terrible creature.
When the moon rose so as 10 shine d.
reclly upon The opening in the grol,o, its
beams lighted the beautiful spotted hide of a
huge panther! The lion Of Egypt slept
with her head upon her paws, wilhthe COM
lorlable dignity Of greathouse dog. Z, Her
eyes, which opened from time TO time, were
now closed. Her face was turned towards
the FreLchman. A thousand confused
thoughts passed through The soldiers bosom.
Ills first idea was TO shoot his enemy lhro'
the head; buthe 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 beaIing of his
heart. Twice he put his hand upon his
scimelar, but the difficulty of penetrating
her hard rough skin made him relinguish
the project. TO attempt her destruction,
and fail would be instant death. Al all
events he resolved TO wait for daylight. Day
came al last, aud showed the jaws Of The
sleeping panther covered with blood.
"She has eaten la,eIy," said the French
man TO himself. "She will not awaken in
hunger"
She was in truth q beautiful monster
The fur on her throat and legs was of o
dazzling whiteness; q circle Of little dark
spots like velvet, formed pretty bracelets
round her paws-her large muscular tail
as beautiful white, terminated by black
rings; and the soft smooth fur on her body
was of glowing yellow, like unwroughl
gold, richly shaded with dark brown spots
in the form of roses.
This powerful but tranquil hostess repos.
ed in as graceful an altitude as puss sleep.
ing on foolslool. Her head stretched on
nervous ouslrelrhed paws, from which her
long white smcllers spread out like silver
threads. Had she been in a cage, the
Frenchman would certainly have admired
the perfect symmclery Of her dark form,
and the rich contrast of colors that gave
such an imperial briliancy 20 her robe; but
alone, and in her power, it was different
thing. Al the mouth Of tho cannon he had
le|l his couiage rising with increasing dang
er, but il w1s sinking now. The cold sweat
poured from his forehead as he saw the
sleeping pan,Err. Considering himself a
dead nnn, he waited his fate as courageous
Iy as he could. When the sun rose, the
panther suddenly opened her eyes, stretch
ed out her paws ard gasped, showing o
Irigh,ful row Of teeth, and Il great tongue as
hard and as rough os file. She then
shook herself, and began 10 wash her bloody
paws, passing them from time to lime over
her ears like kitten. "Very well done, "
though. the soldier, who fel. his gallery and
courage relurning-"she does her toie'
handsomely" He seized liue dagger
which he lad taken from one oil the Arabs
-"Come, lei us wish each other good morn
, ing" thought, he. AT this moment tile
panther turned her head towards him sud
denly, and fixed surprised and eatnes
gaze upon him.
The fixedness of her bright metallic
eyes. and their almost insupporable bril-
Iiancy. made the soldier lremble, especially
when the mighty beast moved toward him
With great boIdness and presence of mini
he looked her directly in the eye, havin!
olten heard that great power may be OBJ
laincd over animals in that manner. Whel
she came up 10 him, he gently scratched he
heal and smoothed her fur. Her eyes grad
ualIy solIened, she began 10 wag her tail
and al last she purred like peled cat: bu
SO deep and sIrong were her notes of JOY
that they resounded through the cave like
church organ.
The Frenchman redoubled his coresses
and when he thought her lerocily was suff
cenlly tanned, he attempted 10 leave tn
grouo. The panther made no opposition |
his going out; bu, She came bounding ali,
, him, lifting up her back and rubbing ogain
. him like an affectionate kitten. "She re
quires great deal of attention." said tn
Frenchman, smiling. He tried TO feel he
ears and throat; and perceving that sh
4 was pleased with ii. he began 10 tickle III
i back of her head with the point Of his das
! ger. hoping 10 find u favorable opporunil
10 stab her; but the hardness Of the bone
>. made him trembIo lest he should not SUI
coed. ,..... --
G The beautiful SulIana of the desert seen
e ed 10 tempt the courage Of her prisoner, /
!. raising her head, stretching out her nee
\ and rubbing against him. The soldier SUI
!. denly thought that, lokilI her with one blo'
}. he must strike her in the throat. He raj
d ed blade for that plrpOse---bul at lhui5n
n menV she crouched down al his feet, loo
e ing up III his face with strange mixture
d infection and native ierceness. The po
!. Frenchman leaned against The tree, eali
/. some dutes, and casting his eye anxious
n around the desert, TO see il no one was COZ
q, ing 10 free him from his terrible companc
.. whose strange friendship was SO liltle 10
#. trusted. lie offered 10 feed her with sol
g. nuts and dates, but she looked upon .ht
lie with supreme contempt. However, as
sensible of his kind intentions, she lick
TO his shoes and pured. -,.