The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-29

I It's paws striking yengefully at my project
| ;nc knees as sat. / had preferred to re-
main In that position to clasp the tree-ssem
with one hand. and 10 throw the full weight
| Of nv balanced frame into the stroke which
| I should deal. The dash at me was the
signal for that stroke, and my keen blaze
| sweeping, by q side thrust, struck the AMI
NAL in the ribs ct the very moment lib
! paws touched my clothing.
Such half howl, half shrek, as rent the
air was truly appalling. II was the cry OF
baffled rage and mortal agony, and the 81
| yantic cat fell to the earth with heavy
thud--dead. H lsI6 n
i at once regained my rife; for now
that the scent of blood was on the air, |
we'll knew that the wolves would soon be
there. It seemed as if the furnished herd
whose cry. had heard not only amelled
the blood, but few to the spot, for it was
apparently not three minutes ere at least
score of the snarling, yelping orutes were
ciroling around the oak. sat still, con-
tent to let the ravenous things fill their
stomachs with the dead panther. After
circuit or two around the tree the whole
pack dashed forward to the feast, and in;
stantly became one bowling mass, tearing
away at the carcass with vorscity which,
in less than minute, left not morsel un-
devoured. gazed down less in curiosity
and dismay than in disgust, and without
reflection discharged my rifle in their
midst.
TWAS foolish act, knew as soon as it
was done, for up to that moment my pre-
sence appeared not to have been known.
The shot pierced the body of one great
gaunt dog, who bounded off for the forest,
pursued BY every one of his fellows. In q
little while the horrid carnival was at its
height. and almost before | could reload
the weapon the pack was again beneath
me, this time bounding up into the air in o
vain endeavor to reach my roost..@ One big
brute alone sat apart from the rest, licking
his laws as if his share of the feast had
satisfied his keenest cravings. My wolf
hate again induced me to raise the rifle.
This time shot through the heart, and the
animalfe over and lay dead some moments
ere the others scented his blood. Then, in
an incredibly short space of time, that body
was devoured, and the now perfectly fren-
lied creatures rushed to and fro around the
tree, their tongues protruding, growing
and bowling, until it seemed to me as If |.
should 90 mad at the Pandemoniac sere-.
made. 49,.
All at once the noise ceased, and in
twinkling the wolves were gone! Aston
ished, / awaited the cause. Had some Of
nv companions, hearing the noise, come to
nv relief ? My heart gave great bound
at the thought. But no sign of any human
presence was given, and I was left to con-
lecture. ..a.. :.5s8.s..r 49,
But not long for moving back and forth,
on the outskirts of the opening l beheld q
form which soon aacertained to be that of
another panther-probably the mate of the
one had killed. The newcomer did not
appear to be aware of my presence. The
smell of blood on the soil overloaded the
air with the sanguine scent and beWlldered
the cautious beast, for it passed to and fro
carelessly, uttering o low growl all the
while.
Should shoot itY The light was too dim
for anything like good aim. If | missed
fire it would be my doom. l resolved to
await further developments.
Something which Idid-some unconscious
movement which made-seemed suddenly
to arrest the panther's attention. In an
instant it was on its belly, lashing the
ground with its tail, working its way to-
ward the oak. The foliage was 30 thick
that for moment lost sight of my enemy.
In that moment i. dashed up close to the
tree and couched for its spring. The
movement was so sudden that l was taken
unawares, and before | could fire, the mad
dened brute was upon the limbs below me.
fred almost at random, dropped my rifle
to the ground, then drew my knife, but not
soon enough to avert q catastrophe. A
single blow from the catamount's paw sent
me whirling headlong to the earth-a result
which apparently 80 astonshed the assall-
ant that it preferred to reconnoitre before
further proceedings. This gave me time to
gather my senses, and when the beast came
sliding down the tree, as it did, rump fore
most, I was on my feet ready for close
quarter struggle.
Now was my time. l bounded to the
tree trunk, and before the panther could
drop to the ground had buried my knife to
the handle in his back. The blow was not
we'll aimed, for instead of piercing vital
organ the blade penetrated to the bowels,
leaving the creatures strength compare
lively unimpaired.
remember but little else that happened.
I only know that as we rolled together on
the earth in deadly struggle, the pan
theirs fangs fastened upon my left thigh, !
felt that another beast of some kind had
mingled in the fray. Then all became
dark ; and when awoke to consciousness
it was to find two of my camp-fellows and
my good hound bending over me-the pan
Their dead, not five feet away, yar
Their story and mine were soon told.
Alarmed at my non-arrival at the camp,
they had sailed out at dark in quest of me.
After a long time the hound struck my track,
and following, they came at the moment
when I closed in with the panther. The
hound it was who saved me, for it was ne
who throttled the brute at the moment be-
came unconscious.
was considerably injured, both by the
fall from the tree and by the panther's
teeth, which lacerated my flesh badly, but
did not crush any bones. A camp was ex-
temporized on the spot, huge fire built to
keep off the wolves, and by its genial
warmth / slept the sweetest sleep OF my
life. "..
|, had fought my last panther fight.
Captain HARRY 3. PERKINS.
A "Reminiscences of Thaddeus Stevens
rn.o nnRs