Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-07-29

middle of the night his sleep was suddenly dis
turbed by an extraordinary noise. He raised
himself and lstened-and amid the deep ST.
lence 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 per-
ceive the object of his terror He caught the
glimpse of two faint yellow lights at distance
from him !; he thought it 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 an
imal lying about two feet from him. There was
not light enough to distinguish what species of
animal it was; it might be lion, tiger, or
crocodile; but the strong odor that filled the
cave left no doubt of the presence of some large
and terrible creature. t........ ..,.,.... ..-.
! When the moon rose so as to shine directly
upon the opening in the grotto, its beams
lighted the beautiful spotted hide of huge
panther. The lion of Egypt slept with her
head upon her paws; with the comfortable
dignity of great house-dog. Her eyes, which
had opened from time to time, was now closed
Her face was turned towards the Frenchman
A thousand confused thoughts passed through
the soldier mind. 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
awaken her-nothing broke the deep silence
but the breath of the panther and beating of
her heart. He twice put his hand upon his
scimetar, but the difficulty M penetrating her
hard rough skin, made him relinqush his pro-
ject. To attempt her destruction, and fail in
the attempt, would be instant DEATH At all
events, he resolved to wait for daylight. Day
came at last, and showed the jaws of the pan
ther covered with blood.
She has eaten lately said the Frenchman
to himself. She will not awaken in hunger
She was in truth beautiful monster. The
fur on her throat and legs was of dazzling
whiteness a circle Of little dark spots like vel
vet, formed pretty bracelets round her paws
her large Muscular tail was beautifully white,
terminated by black rings and the soft smooth
unwrought gold richly shaped, with dark brown
spots in the form of roses.
When the sun rose, the panther suddenly
opened her eyes-streiched out her paws and
gaped, showing frightful row of teeth, and a
great tongue, as hard and as rough as fle.-
She then shook herself, and began TO wash her
bloody paws, passing them from time 10 time
over her ears, like kitten. Very well done,
thought the soldier, who felt his gayeiy and
courage returning, she does her toilet very
handsomely He seized little dagger, that
he had taken from one of the Arabs Come
let US wish each other good morning. thought
he. At this moment the panther turned her
head towards him suddenly, and fixed sur
prised and earnest gaze upon him.
The ixedness of her bright metallic eyes,
and their almost insupportable brilliancy, the
. soldier trembed,. especially WREN the mighty
beast moved toward him. With great bold
ness and presence of mind he looked her di-
rectly in the eye, having often heard that great
power may be obtained over animals in that
manner. When she came up to him he gent
ly scratched her head and smoo,hed her fur
Her eyes gradually soflened. the began to wag
her tail, and at last she purred like pelied
cat; but deep and strong were her notes of
joy that they resounded through the cave like
the rolling of church organ.
! The Frenchman redoubled his carresses,
and when he thought her ierocity was sufi-
ciently 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 his legs like
an affectonaie kitten. She requires great
deal of attention, SAID the Frenchman, smi-
ing. He tired to feel her ears and throat, and
perceiving she was pleased with it, he began
to tickle The back of her head with the point of
his dagger, hoping TO iud favorable opportu-
nity TO stab her; but the hardness of the
bones made him tremble lest he should not
succeed.
| The beautiful Sultan 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 strange mixture of affection and
native ferceness, the poor Frenchman leaned
against the tree, ealing some dates, and cast
ing his eye anxously over the desert, to see if
no one was coming to relieve him from his
terrible companion, whose strange friendship
was TO be trusted. He offered TO feed her
with some nuts and dates, but she looked upon
them with supreme contempt. However, as il
sensible to his kind intentions, she licked his
shoes and purred.
/ will she be SO when she is hungry T.
thought the Frenchman. The idea made him
tremble. He looked at the size of the pan
ther. She was three feet long, without inclu-
ding her tail, which was nearly three feet
more in length, and as sound as great
cudgel.
Her head was big as lions, and her face
was distinguished by peculiar expression OF
cunning. The cold cruelty of the tiger reign
ed there; but there was likewise something
most strangely like the countenance of an art
fol woman in the gaye,y and fondness of the