Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-02-22
DEATH OF THE PANTHER


rom our cabin, and the night had SET q,
u with tempest. But before 1t was
mite dark, we had hunted the coun- 9,
rrv round for safe resting place, anu h
had come to the conclusion that such h
an one was not to be found in the Z
district. Ascending q high hill, ana |
climbing to the top Of a tree, Willis haa
seen smoke rising over the forest al
MT more than two miles distance IN
the Northwest. The wind was North
west too, and it was cloudy, and occa-
s;onal snow squalls chilled us; butt
heading the wind, we hurried Oh
toward the smoke. Hurry means
something different in those wllas
from what is ordinarily understood by
& A mile in three-quarters OF al
hour is extraordinary travelling over
fallen trees and through dense swamp
thickets, A mile in two hours is often
swifter than is either convenient OF
possible. ,o
Darkness, dense and unwelcome'
overlook us in the forest, and now we
1,rea not trust the wind for our
ruide, We did not know North from
South. and Of course not East from
$ West !; therefore, it was not safe TO
8 move a step after we lost the d'rec-
d t;on nor when we found it AGAIN
l. could we trust ourselves to keep 1t,
y for every one has heard Of the tend
}; encv to 60 in circles, when one is los
t. in the woods.
t, After satisfying ourselves whlc'
it, was North and which South, by al
4: examination of the trees, we pro
ceeded on a plan which Joe and my
ur self had frequently practiced i'll SIN
liar cases. / would go on in I'll
mouer direction hundred yards, an
I'd, then shout. If l had pursued u
ger RIGHT course, Joe would come up
not, he, who had been standing fac''
md the course, would direct me till l W
in dine Northwest from him, and tn
come up to me, walk directly pa
md me-. and would face his course, a
re- auain set him right if he wander'
and walk up to and past him. so
ate' kent on for another hour, and fo''
A wn had not mistaken. A little to
rust r;yht we saw through the fores
j. ! CLEAN of light, and Joe immedlat
~ said:
'eek CIT must be the cabin Of old Pa
CAL the Indian. You know, Black $
o is he lived about here, and this IS
or the lank of g stream, just as he
"' scribed it."
..no So we approached, and were
' to obtain admission; for the '
w., was blowing almost a hurricane
'''' wc had been forced to walk SO SIC
'oo'"' that we were chilled. 'The
"'n., ther' was the English of the ol'
,, s.n dams name, and this had been 81
;, ovo ened by the hunters to pam. \
a,v - Of Panther, Painter, Paint,) ana ne
." " distinguished from his son, who
T." WV occ,,pied the cabin with him, q
Paint.
9 NIP He was emphatically old.
tain]v not less than four score
and ten had left their marks
0 take dark forehead. Even the scall
s WOO was scattered on the winds OF
drink. aoo, And that night the old
has IT. pilgrimage was ended. The
Of century had not bent MS
anted a the clouds Of a hundred years Il
slaves dimmed his eagle eye.
IN ''l'' AS we entered the cabin, he
G King, . rude deer-skin couch, elevate
loduceo inches from the floor. His
leu ms glance caught in an instant u
tertam- tures Of our race, and the first
his owl, 7 heard, as the cabin door sw
III askeo it's rough hide hinges, we're,
'usn' , ~ men, white men, muttereo
w. wy ,' tone to himself.
sup oe walked up toward him, q
sea '"seht ing his hand in mine felt his
''o's 7';s for / saw at a glance that
~ III i''S sick. But could hardly dis
aros. in a slcA' D"' c,, ,os II 4
was killed 1t, so very WOW ,o,, N,
~ beyond my skill, or help Of N
5 State are Ola hap laughed the
usion that WITH a deep cultural laugh
peace anu Palther will not leap az
ION % w.. thhl ?"
'sn.h, ~ , vi. Hehad read my face, and
calmly 81 fear not, my VI
to say that Your lie has been d ''"3
est portion somewhat adventurous
But you'll ,ot have to strut
. =, that the longer"
mdered us III F" 49,, N A.,
,,o.,s and asleep on the 'oor by tn
:'.:,as WIN was after midnl,ht when
d helped us i'e III, ,,,;rhtl, ,nntho W
Il 0'' 0' cleaned in the light. TIL
~ Indian was standing b; Il
thern Miss. his M'iio'' oh