Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-04-25
a Thrilling Narrative.
MORNING CALL FROM A PANTHER -oUT
OF THE JAWS OF DEATH.
From the ST NScboL rs for ADriL.

FL OVC LItG ~ lNtCfLOt, 70 IVf <AP' I've
81 suppose you're wondering why keel
that ugly old chest,'' said Mrs
tsand must own that IT'S not very orna
mental; but it saved my life once. for al
that. see you think Pm making fun O.
you, but Pm not, indeed; anu when yor
hear The story, think you'll agree Will
me that have good reason to value, it ugly
as it looks. s53 - t5e 99ae
''This Is how it happened. When We
first came out to India, my husband was
sent to make the survey of the Nerbudds
Valley, one of the widest bits in all Cen
trail India; and we really we've, at first, thu
only white people within forty or fifty miles
And such time as we had of it! If my
husband hadn't been as strong as he is
and perfect miracle of patience as we'll
I don't see how he could have stood what
he had to do. It was dreadful work fol-
him, being up sometimes for a whole night
together, or having to stand out in the
burning sun, when the very ground itself
was almost too hot to touch. And as, for
the native workmen, l never saw such a
doing everything wrong. and
never liking any body to put them right.
When the railway was being made they u.s.
ed to carry the earth on their heads in bas-
kets, and when Mr.. R --- served out
wheelbarrows to them, they actually car
ried them on their heads in the same way!
I couldn't help laughing at it, though 1t
was terribly provoking too. And that was
just the way they all were, if there was
wrong way of using anything, they'd be
sure to find it out. Even our butler, or
khitmutgar, who was much better than
the most of them, came one day and begged
pair of old decanter labels that my hus-
band was going to throw away; and when
the man came in next morning he had pos-
itively turned them into earrings, and
went about quite gravely with Port in
one ear and Sherry in the other! ga,El
"However, if the native men worried
me, The native beasts we're fifty times
worse. 1t was no joke, can assure you,
to be awakened in the night by the roar of
a tiger close under the window, or by an ell
ephant crashing and trumpeting through
the jungle with noise like a mail coach
going at full gallop in a dollhouse. Well,
as soon as thaG was over the jackals would
set up squealing and whlmpering like so
many frightened children; and then
dreadful native bird, whose name I've
never found out Il suppose because nobody
could invent one bad enough for lt) would
break out in succession of the most hor-
rible cries-just like somebody being MUIR
dered-until the noise fairly drove me
wild. , ss. s,,s.3. l..,.sss .,...,. ss.s1 =.
'.And then the antsl but you've seen
them for yourselves and needn' It tell you
about them. But all this while Pm neg
Letting my story. {@ia sea5 &3Aj
sOne day lit will be long enough before
I forget it) my husband was out as usual
at his work, and the nurse had gone down
to the other native servants at the end of
the compound as we call this big en-
closure, and was left alone in the house
with my little Minnie yonder, who was
then just about year old. By this time
had gotten over my first fears and didn't
mind a bit being left by myself; indeed, all
the lower windows having bars across
them, thought that I was safe enough;
but little dreamed of what was coming.
II must have been sitting over my sew
ing nearly an hour, with the child playing
about the floor beside me, when suddenly
I heard dull thump overhead as if some
thing had fallen upon the roof. I didn't
think anything of it at the moment, for
one soon gets used to all sorts of strange
sounds in the Indian jungle; but presently
thought could hear heavy breathing
in the next room but one, and then be-
gan to feel frightened in earnest. rose
as softly as could, and crept to the door
way between the rooms. This doorway
was only closed by curtain, and gently
pulling aside the folds, I peeped through
and found myself within few PAGES of
the largest panther I had ever seen in my
life.
''For one moment it was just as if had
been frozen stiff, and then the thought
came to me just as if somebody had spoken
it: ''The big chest!" ~. 4a@
II knew that this chest would hold me
and my child easily, and that 1 could
leave a chink Of the lid open to let breathe,
for the overlapping edge would save my
fingers from the panther. In second I
had it all clear before me; but, had not the
brute stopped short at sight Of the cur
tain, l should never have had a chance of
trying it. Luckily for me, the Indian
panther, savage as he is, is terrible cow
ard, and suspicious as any detective. I've
seen one 60 round and round trap for
more than half an hour before he made up
ais mind to spring at the bait. So, while
my friend was puzzling himself ever the
curtain, and wondering whether it was
meant for a trap or not, I took up Min
ME twho, poor little pet, seemed to know
there was something wrong, and never ut
Tered sound), and into the chest crept,
making as little noise as I could.
ut was hardly settled there when heard
The 'sniff-sniff' of the panther coming right
up to where lay, and, through the chink
that had left open, the hot, foul breath
came ming in upon my face almost
making me sick. 1t seemed to bring my
heart into my mouth when 1 heard his
great claws scraping the edge Of the lid,
and trying to lift it up; but, happily, the
,hink was too narrow for his paw to enter.
But If the paw couldn't the tongue could |
and soon he began to lick my fingers, rasp-
ng them so that hardly knew how to
Dear it. Still, the touch of Minnie's little
arm around my neck seemed to give me !
courage.
s'But there was far worse than this to |
come, for the panther suddenly leaped
right on top the chest, and his weight |
, H. L - \