Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1865-08-25
vi | ; G T. LII A NY.
THE PANTBER's DEN,
M WnIIAN a. BUsHNELI.


ping into canoe With an old hunter. to
take his 6rst lesson in voodcrah.
" Never fear fOT the boy. Burt Ham
nond baint the one ter lead him into dan
ger. vas the eheery response. IN bring
ban back safe and SQUAD. IL I die for H."
a" No. doaf fear. mother. = also answered
Harry Cursiss. - IN b. very careful. . and
b waved the slender paddle around b.
bead m token Of farewell A. the light barb
shot into the little lake upon -hieh the log
cabin Of the settler had been bulk.
EverythiBg vas new and wonderful 20
The boy Just VergIng into his eighteenth
year. But fe- months previously bis pa
rents had moved from an Eastern city into
the almost unbounded wilderness. For
miles around the inhabitants -ere sparse in
deed. and Nth the exception Of The old
hunter. whose home had been for wears on
The banks Of the beautiful lake. they rarely
bad seen visitors. Very mach. however.
had the housely but PrAcsicable kno-iedge
of Bsrt Hammond bene6tted them. and AZ
once be and the boy became fas, friends.
OccaP'ed IN the requirements Of their new
home no previous opportunity oo=ld b.
found for the long talked Of hant. and nov
iAiriy aaoat upon the almost rippleless lake.
the heart Of the boy beai 9TH happin~s.
such a' be had never kno~n IN city hfe
" Thar = said the hunter. a. be rested on
BIS oars FOR a moment. - Thar We never
sa- anything 70 beat that before in ali YER
bora days. and be pointed 10 the scores
that franed the CLASSY waters With gold YER
million ioIsge.
% That Is true. You kno- I have al~ays
lived among brick walls. No. I never saw
such giorious a1tuma eoloring before
Wa. / have. often. add vet IL i beau,i-
fui trr me- Thar var painter feller here
so0e years ago that tried ter copy IL. lie
dad poO,y veil Ga. bat .rter all Il wasn't er
Prinla ter NAt0r- III tell you -hat. boy.
thar hAins no painter ike God
Coming iron such source the rcverent
vordSfeu upon both ears and heart % Har-
~ Cur'i-s nth f.r szorc force than II they
had been uttered by edseated lips amid 9th
er surroundings. and for tine they hoAted
on in si.ehoe. Suddenly. ho-ever. the
Stiffness vas broken BY a sharp cry and q
lo~. plaintIve bowl. and Hammond dropped
'bs paddle. seiEvd his rife. And prepared it
for immediate use.
What Is it. Burt asked Harry. almost
under breath
" Er painter. boy7"
"A painterS I see no one
d" Nor I nutber. bat that i one er pro~l-
ing round. icst a. sure A. sbootin'
A" But ~hy should yog Be AFRAID Of paint
err Surely no man -oald harm u.~
MAns It hAins sr nan I'm tAIkin'
about
- Nota man You said il vAs painter. .
90 - it AN. boy-so q am. bot er painter
Is er beast
&" don't understand.-
Wal. cum ter think. I reckon your folks
call it er panther, bat al on 10 hunters call
ii er painter
Il" a panther. BurtS-
"Nes. and veil have ter look sharp ter
night. ] haint heard one % ther critters
Ground fcr er long .in1e. ard be amt arter
no good. kin tell yer
We cannot b. IN danger here -
No. not on tber water. bat III mis-. ny
guess e ue dont beAr the gentleman ergin
-bea Ne camp. There pro-lin' varnent..
these ar paioiers-spry a. er cat and smart
a. er steel trap. Bot -e1l cen 20 ther
other sids q tber lake. and % give him er
long run ii he's bent on follerin' us. I've
bad morn one scrimmsge With EN- in ny
time. and dcnt fancy Il overly weli ~
For time their thoughts naisrally turn
81 % ihc panther and Bis habits. BOT soon
tie vast number Of wafer.fovls attracted
their attention. and evening iosnd them
many niles from hone -ith their canoe veil
laden
Where shall -e camp. Burt7r asked
Harry. III looks a. IL ii might stern.
and-~
" Al oii hunter Ike aiisrs etlkeriates
vhar b. . er going Ter sleep Thar is er
huis cabin bereabouis tba, built myself.
sod many's tber night it has rin me q sbcl-
ter
And b turned THE canoe into little cove
I see no cabin. Burt
Nor 7. vet And b. showed the b,rt
through a thicket of sillov. and siders m.
90 e brook. ani tlen. 9Th e silent isurh.
pointed cot The promi.ei sheiier ifs
alters best. Harry. Ter Keep yer bone kind-
er hii, ier thar nay b. eyes iootin az YER
that t uar better 70 keep bind. u hsint
I % m1rh matter no. a. % var IN Iniln time.