Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-08-12

into biting, and considerable tussle was heard
amongst the dry leaves where they stood
Old friends, however, soon forget injuries, and
so did they, for they lay down side by side to
rest. And now all might have been well with
the two prisoners, for the probability is that
the panthers would have peaceably departed
and left them to pray for daylight, but for an
incautious expression of Uncle Bobby's, who,
rejecting on the various catastrophies of the
night, the rupture of the jug, spilling of the
keg, breaking of the gun-stock, and confine-
ment in the hollow, which abounded in fleas,
as hog beds always do-moved by these vast
considerations, and boiling over with an
ger, called out, soto voee, 'Drat their pic
tures!'
The words were no sooner out, than both
the animals sprung to their feet with deep
growl, turned their eyes, fairly shooting fire,
towards the hapless men, and communicated
with each other as to the cause of the alarm.
An instant sufficed for explanation. BY that
mysterious instinct which brutes possess, the
tale was told, the plan of Joint attack laid, and
they sprang simultaneously, one into the
front and the other 10 the rear of the syca-
more.
Oh how uncle Bobby wished for his rifle,
as he saw the broad forehead of the beast with
in pace of him. He fairly wept as he thought
what chance he was missing for painter
skin that would buy half barrel of whiskey
in Burlington. But now his love of gain
changed into love of life, as the panther with
mighty grasp seized the chunk which filled
the entrance and endeavored to draw it out
an attempt that would have succeeded but for
the joint efforts of the pair inside. For while
it seemed as if he would gain the prize, aud
had the other panther, who came round and
stood looking on, but known enough to assist
him, there would have been wall at Uncle
Box's for moral certainty. As it was, the
old man lost coat sleeve, the boy finger
nail, both torn off by the claws of the infuriated
animal.
Disappointed in his efforts, the panther chan
ged the exercise of pulling for that of scratching,
and if ever you saw a little dog with wiry
hair and rummy eyes, laboring TO scratch out
a rat hole, you can form some idea of the
way the dirt few before the big feet and pow
erful claws OF the brute. Uncle Bobby cluDg
to his chunk however, and although both
eyes, mouth and nose were filled with the
mois; earth that flew in clouds, lie kept up
good heart and stuck fast. yelling like an i'd
lot in hopes to alarm his assaiants. 1t is a
fact that human voice is generally dreaded
by wild animals but just now it seemed to
have lost its power, for the panthers, intoxi-
Gated by the taste and smell of the wllskey,
or IhirstiDg for human blood, seemed quite
regardless Of the old man 'svoce, and scratch
ed away harder than before. Their labor
was quite in vain, for they soon cleared the
earth away to the more solid roots, upon
which their claws made little impression,
and again they paused in their exertions.-
moments consultation, and one of them,
with a lions bound, went up the tree evil
denIly in search of hole by which to enter
the cavity from above. This was the most
trying moment Of The whole night, for had
such an entrance existed, the imprisoned
man well knew that his life and the life
of the lad was not worth moments pur-
chase.
1t is peculiarly, however, of these from
tier settlers, to fight against all emergencies,
and if they cannot win the game, at least 10
play it OUT Iknew one of this class, when
lying upon his death bed TO order his bowie
knife, pistols and rifle TO be laid at his side
that he might he ready to meet death with
his own tools and it was done. Uncle Bob
by was 'all game as they say. None in
Barren county were braver, none OIL Skunk
river had less coward drops, SO lie resolutely
drew his big spring knife, braced himself
upright, and waited for the monsters des-
cent, determined 'to have the first blow if
he died for it. A short suspense, and he
was relieved Of this difficulty, for the panther
returned down upon the outside evidently
disappointed. Another ten minutes at scratch
ing and then another pause.
A change of tactics, and both sentinels
shifted positions TO the other side of The tree,
and bent themselves unitedly to the task
Nobody knows what hole they made! Un-
Gle Bobby declared that he could have buried
five-year-old i'll it without difficulty, and as
Jeremy bears testimony 10 the same effect,
we must believe il, more especially as nv in
| formant, whose word is worth host Of such,
corroborates the assertion.
The tree, as observed, was a leaning one.
The sheer being towards the wafer; it was
old and rotten, and whether the panlhers
knew it or not, they were pursuing just the
the right plan 10 make it fall. Crack went
one of the upper limbs as it broke off and
with loud splash fell into the creek. Crack
went one of the large roots, weakened by
old age, that had for hundred years helped
to sustain it from falling. The thick cob
webs loaded with spiders, and piles Of rotten
wood that had accumulated on the inside of
the tree, began to fall upon them nnd almost
TO smother them with dust.
The confined air was suffocating-their
emotions inlense-and still hour after hour
The panthers worked on. The end was not
far off, for now, slowly and reluctantly at
first, then more and more pleasantly, then
with the force and rush of an avalanche, down
cams the nId sycamore cOyRrino The onno