The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-04

crouching for thst fatal leap, BY which they
always attack their prey.
was armed with Colts revolver, but did
not like to risk throwing axa1 : shot fsarine j.
miss in the uncertain twilight: Slowly re-
treating toward thsspo whese Mrs. Raywas,
the panthsrs / quickly informed her ct our
danger, and slso apprised her Of the fact that
q panther viii universally attack wemnn be-
fore man and white man in preference to
black cn4, {whether there are political indi-
cations in this, or not, / will not stop to dis
4ouss- This has 60 often been demonstrated
that it passes as an axiom among woodsmen
lthr0ughontfAe great forests and swamps of
the West and South.
Mrs. Ray neither screamed nor tainted, but
quietly assisted me in gathering up the.
blankets, cooking utensils and provisions,
and in much less time than It requires to
write it, we we're smbaFAed and started for
the opposite shore Before we were half way
over the river, the panther came to the place
we had left, smeled around the deserted
camp moment. and then came down to the
waters edge. Here he gave terrible scream
which echoed tar out and resoundea through
the depths of the dark forest, sounding much
like the voice of woman, when terrible
danger causes her to shrink in terror. In
moment an answering yell from the opposite
side Of the river revealed to us the fact that
another panther awaited our arrival on the
shore toward which we were going. In half
minute panther number two made his appear
ance, as if to offer us the Inequalities Of his
abiding place. The eat like nature Of the
panther is alwaps guarantee to the expert
enced woodsman of safety while on the water,
as panther will in no case enter water to Sc
cure his prey. But our situation was not
pleasant-on each side of us a panther,
anxious to force an acquaintance upon US
which we did not desire. The only alterna-
tive now was to paddle up the stream, hoping
that some island might be found upon which
we could pass the night
The last golden tints of the setting sun had
faded from the West. The stars were shi-
ming bright in the deep blue arch above
The sombre forests on either side of us occa-
sionally resounded with the shrill screams of
the panthers, who kept along, and travelled
on the river banks a. fast as our canoe hoated
on its bosom. Occasionally an alligator,
awakened from his dreams by the noise of the
paddles, or the wild chorus which accompa-
MED us, as we glded along, plunged from his
bed of sand into the river, sending q success
sion of tiny waves to beat against the sides of
our frail barque.
After spending three or four hours in this
way, and finding no island, Mrs. Ray COM
planned so much of being tired. that | was
fearful she could not endure the fatigue of the
journey without some rest Fortune favored
us at this time little. A trees had fallen
many years before and while the roots had
held it to the banks, the top had been SO long
Under water that it was fast at the bottom of
the river. y dry limb was sticking up, and
aaeeidently struck it with my paddle. Mrs.
Ray, who was sitting in the bow of the ca
noe, by my direction fastened the little cord
(which we used 10 fasten the boat to the
limb, and here we prepared to spend the
night
But one could sleep at time, and | urged
her to lie down ill the canoe. which she did.
drawing blanket over her.
IN the meantime, had to sit up, to keep |
the little canoe from upsetting In this stu. /
uatlon we remained during the night. | keep /
ing awake, aud listening 10 the panther |
chorus, which was often increased BY the |
howl of wolves, hooting of owls. and dismal |
notes OF the jewellers in those gloomy swamps
Since then | have witnessed the power of the
ocean, when dashed into fury bv the winds of
winter. | have been in dismal places. both
in the old world and the new. | have passed
nights, expecting battle in the morning
but never did see night so long and fear
full as this.
In the morning, our unwecome visitors
having left, We resumed our journey, feeling
thankful for our escape. But in the after
noon, hurricane passed over rs, breaking off
limbs, and dashing to the earth the stoutest
trees. From this danger too, we escaped 4
unframed and at the end of the seventh
Cay, landed at Mr.. b. s plantation.
The long separated brother and sister could
hardly find words to express their JOY. She,
true to her woman's nature, tainted in the
n n
been cool as winter aud strong as iron in the
hour OF danger, became unstrung in the rap
ture of joy.
1t might help this story could add that
married the woman, but | cannot She was
already married. went on to myAut, twelve
miles above, next morning, and never saw
Mrs. Ray afterwards. If She still lives and
sees this sketch, doubtless she viii remember
wei the writer and the fearful night on the
Suaforer. j. p. S.xpopn
Fort Madison, Iowa. Feb. 2, 1866.