Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-09-16
FRIENDsHIP OF A PANTHER,
Or 4 SOLDIER IN THE DESERT

4
This is very beautiful and interesting story by
M. De BALzAc, the French Novelist, that has been
produced and reproduced in the press of this country
very often within the past fourteen years.
During the enerprsing expedition into Upper
Egypt, General Desaix provincial soldier, fell into
the power of tribe of Arabs. called Maugabins, and
by them carried into the desert beyond the cata
ract of the Nile. In order to place safe distance
between themselves and the French army, the Maui
grabins made forced march, and did not stop until
night closed in They encamped around fountain
surrounded by palm trees Not supposing their pris
oner would attempt TO escape, they contented them
selves with merely binding his hands, and after hav
ing fed their horses. and made their supper upon
dates, they all of them slept soundy AS the
French prisoner convinced of this fact he began
to gnaw the cords that bound him. and soon reganed
the liberty of his hands. He seized a carhine, and
took the precaution to provide himself with som dry
dates, and little bag of grain, and armed with
scimeter, started off in the direction of the French
my.
In his eagerness 10 arrive 1T place OF safety, he
urged the already wearied horse until the generous
animal fell down dead and left his rider alone in the
midst of the desert. For long time the Frenchman
walked on with the perseverance OF runaway slave
but he at last obliged to stop. The day
finished; notwithstanding the beauty and freshness of
oriental nights he did not feel strength enough pur
his journey. Having reached little cluster OF
the palms, which had gaddened his heart at distance,
he sep without taking any precauton for his defence.
which fell upon him with ntolerable fervor; for, in
his WEAKNESS, he had reposed the side opposite TO
the morning shadows of the majestic palms.-The
prospect around filled him with despair. In every d.
| reciion nothing met his eye but wide of sand
sparkling and dancing like dagger in the Sunshine.
The pure briancy of the sky left the imagination
nothing to desire. Not cloud obscured its spendor,
not zephyr moved the surface of the desert. The
earth and the heavens seemed fire II they met
at the horizon in line of light as fine and gitterng
as the edge of a sword. There mild and awfn!
esty in the universal stiffness! God in all his nn
ity seemed present 10 the soul!
The desoate wanderer thought of the fountains and
| roses of his native province, and wept aloud. He
casped the palm if it had been a living friend -
He shouted to relieve the forgetfulness of soil
| tude. The wide wilderness sent back sharp sound
from the distance; but echo was awakened! The
echo was in his heart
| with melancholy steps he walked around the emf
nence on which the palm trees grew. To his great
10y, he discovered on the opposite side sort Of
tural grotto formed by pile of granite. Hope was
awakened in his breast The palms would furnish him
with dates tor tood and human beings nj ht come
that way before they were exhausted Perhaps anoh
party of Maugrabins, whose wandering life began to
have some charms for his imaginaton-or he might
hear the noise OF approaching cannon-for Bona arte
was then passing over Egypt The Frenchman eXpe-
rienced sudden transition from the deepest dispar
TO the widest 10Y.
He occupied himself during the day with cutting down
some of the palm trees TO defend the mouth of the grot
to against wild beasts, which might probably come in
the night time 10 drink at the rivule flowing al the
foot of the palms Notwithstanding the eagerness
produced by fear of being devoured in his sleep, he
could not finish his Notifications during the day. To-
ward evening" the mighty tree he had been cutting, fell
to the ground with crash that resounded through
the desert, if solitude had uttered deep groan
| The soldier trembled if there had been a super
| natural voice in the air. But like heir who soon
ceases TO mourn over rich parent he Immediately
began to strip off the broad and beautiful leaves form
his f0r thn nirhf Ear hxh yortio
and the extreme warmth of the climate, he soon fell
into profound SIumber. In the middle of the night
his sleep was suddenly disturbed by an extraordinary
noise He raised himself and listened-and amid the
deep silence he heard the loud breathing of some pow
eru! animal. The sound fell upon his heart like ice.
The hair started upon his head and he strained his
eyes to the utmost perceive the object of his
He caught the glimpse of two faint yellow lights
at distance from hm he thought it might be an OPP
tcIe deIuson, produced by his earnest gaze but
the rays of the entered the chinks of the
he distinctly saw an enormous animal lying about
two feet from him. There not sufficient light to
distinguish what species OF animal it was; ii mi ht
be lion tiger crocodile; but the strong odor
that filled the cave, left doubt of the presence OF
some large and terrible creature.
i When the to shine directly up
the opening in the grotto, its beam lighted up the
beautiful spotted hide of huge panther This lion
of Egypt slept with her head upon her paws, with the
comfortable dignity Of a great house dog. Her eyes
which had opened from time to time, now closed
Her face turned toward the Frenchman A
thousand confused thoughts passed through the SOL
diers BOSOM His first idea to shoot his enemy
through the head; but he that there not room
enough Tor 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 breathing of the panther and the beating Of
his heart. Twice he put his hand TO his scmetar
but the difficulty of penetrating her hard rough skin
made him renquish his pro- ect. To attempt her de-
struction and fail in the attempt was certain death AT
all events he resolved to wait for daylight. Day
came al last and showed the jaws of the sleeping
6 panther covered with blood.
! ''She has eaten laeIy,' said the Freedman to
himself. ''She will not awake in hunger.
She in truth beautiful monster. The fur on
her throat and legs was of dazzling whiteness circle
of little dark spots of light velvet formed pretty brace
lets around her paws; her large muscular tail beau
tfuy white, terminated by black rings and the soft
smooth fur on her body of glowing yellow, like
unwrought gold, richly shaded with dark brown spots
. in the form of roses.
This powerful but tranquil hostess reposed in as
graceful an attitude puss footstool. Her head
! stretched outsretched paws, from which
her long white smeers spread out like silver threads
Had she been in cage, the Frenchman would certain
l ly have admired the perfect symmetry of her dark
form and the rich contrast of colors that gave such
imperial brilliancy to her robe; but alone, anc
in her power, it different thing. AT the mouth
of the cannon he had felt his courage rise with increa
. sing danger, but it was sinking The cold swea
poured from his forehead, he watched the sleeping
. misunderstanding himself dead man, he waite,
q his fate courageous be could. When the SUI
out her paws and gaped showing frIghtful row 0
i teeth, and great tongue hard and rough as file
She then shook herself and began to wash her bood
paws, passing them from time to time her ears
i like kitten. L" Very well done' thought the soldier
who felt his gaiety and courage returnng- She doe
L L.