Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-05

before | could reload the weapon the
pack was again beneath me, this time
bounding up into the air in vain en-
deavor to reach my roost. One big brute
alone sat apart from the rest, licking his
jaws as if his share of the feast had sat
isfed his keenest cravings. My wolf-hsts
again induced me to raise the rifle. This
time / shot through the heart, and the
animal fell over and lay DEAD some mo-
ments ere the others scented his blood.
Then, in an incredibly short space of
time, that body was dcvoured, and the
now perfectly frenzied creatures rushed
| to and fro around the tree, their tongues
protruding, growing and bowling, until
it seemed to me as if l should 90 mad at
the Pandemoniac serenade.
All at once the noise ceased, and in q
twinkliug the wolves were gone. Aston.
ished, l awaited the cause Had some oi
my companions, hearing the noise, come
to my relief? My heart gave great
bound at the thought But no sign o.
any human presence was given, and
was left to conjecture.
forth, on the outskirts of the opening
beheld form which / soon ascertaineo
to be that of another panther-probably
the mate of the one l had killed. The
newcomer did not appear to be aware o.
my presence. The smell of blood on the
soil overloaded the air with the sanguint
scent and bewildered the cautious beast
for it passed to and fro carelessly, utter
ing low growl all the while.
Should | shoot it2 The light was toe
dim for anything like good aim. If
missed fire it would be my doom. re
solved to await further Developments
Something which dd-seme uncon
scious movement which made-seemec
suddenly to arrest the panther's atten
ton. In an instant it was on its belly
lashing the ground with its tail, working
its way toward the oak. The foliage wa
so thick that / for moment lost sight o
my enemy. In that moment il dashed
up close to the tree and crouched for 1T
spring. The mo vement was so suddeI
that / was taken unawares, and before
could fire the ma ldened brute was upon
the limbs below me. fired almost al
random, dropped my rifle to the ground,
then drew my knit e, but not soon enough
to avert a catast rophe. A single blow
from the catamoun is paw sent nae whlrl
ing headlong to the earth--a result which
apparently so ast onished the assailani
that it preferred TO reconnoitre before
further proceedings. This gave me time
to gather my senses, aud when the beast
came sliding down the tree, as it did,
rump foremost, 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 well ali med, for instead of piercing a
vital orga the blade penetrated to the
bowels, les wing the creatures strength
comparatively unimpaired.
/ remernber but little else that hap
pened. 1 only know that as we rolled
together on the earth in q deadly strug-
gle, the panthers fangs fastened upen
my left left ss55;s5 s5 S, Eel. thet 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 bend
ing over me-the panther dead, not live
feet away.
Their story and mine were soon told.
Alarmed at my non-arrivsl at the camp,
they had sailed out at dark in quest of
me. After long time the hound struck
my track, and following, they came up
at the moment when closed in with the
panther The hound it was who saved
me, for it was he who throttlsd the brute
at the moment became unconscious.
l was considerably injured, both by the
fall from the tree and by the panthers
teeth, which lacerated my flesh badly,
but did not crush any bones. A camp
was extemporized 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. HARRY B. PERKINS.
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