Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-04-22

~ suppose you're wondering why I
keep that ugly old chest" said Mrs. r
-, ''and I must own that it's not
very ornamental; but it saved my life
once, for all that. see you think I'm
making fun Of you. but L m not, indeed
and when you hear the story, I think
you'll agree with me that [ have good
reason to value it, ugly as it looks.
"This is how it happened. When we
first came out to India, my husband was
sent to make the survey of the Nerbud-
da Valley, one Of the widest bits in all
Central India; and we really were. at
first, the only white people within forty
or fifty miles. And such a time as we
had of it! If nay husband hadn't been
as strong as he is, and a perfect miracle
could have stood what he had to do It
was dreadful work for him, being up
sometimes for 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, I never saw such set
always dong everything wrong, and
never liking anybody to put them right.
When the railway was being made they
used to carry the earth on their heads in
baskets, end when Mr.. R served
cut wheelbarrows TO them, they actually
carried them on their heads in the same
way! I couldn't help laughing at it,
thought it was terribly provoking, too
And that was just the way they all
were; if there was a wrong way of using
anything they'd be sure to find it out.
Even our butler, or khitmutgar, who
was much better than most of them,
came one day and begged a pair of old
decanter labels that my husband was 60
ing to throw away and when the man
came in next morning he had positively
turned them into ear rings, and went
about quite graveIy with Port in one
ear and Sherry in the other!
However, if the native men worried
me, the alive beasts were fifty times
worse. 1t was no joke, can assure you
to be awakened IN the night by the
roar of tiger close under the window,
or by an elephant crashing and trum-
peting through the jungle with a noise
like mail coach going full gallop into
a hot-hoUse Well: as soon as that was
over. the jackals would set up squeal
ing and whimpering like so many
frightened children and then dread
full native bird, whose name I've never
found out Il suppose because nobody
could invent one bad enough for it,
would break out in succession of the
most horrible cries-just like somebody
being murdered-Until the noise fairly
drove me wild.
.sAnd then the ants ! but you've seen
them for yourselves aud I needn't tell
you about them. But all this while I'm
neglecting my story.
lone day ut will be long enough be-
fore 1 forget it, my husband was out as
usual at his work, aud the nurse had
gone down to the other native servants
at the enc of the compound as we call
this big enclosure, and I was left alone
in the house with my little Minnie yon-
der, who was then just about year old
By this time I had gotten over my first
fears and didn't mind bit being left by
myself in deed, all the lower windows
having bars across them. 1 thought that
I was safe enough; but I little dreamad
of what was coming.
II must have been sitting over nv
sewing nearly an hour, with the child
playing about the floor beside me, when
suddenly heard dull thump overhead
as if something had fallen upon the roof
[ didn't think anything of it at the mo
ment, for one soon gets used to all sorts
Of strange sounds in the Indian Jungle
but presently. I thought I could ht az
heavy breathing in the next room but
one, and then L began 10 feel frightened
in earnest. I rose as softly as I could,
and crept to the door way between the
rooms. This doorway was only closed
by certain, and gently pulling asi lie
the folds, peeped through and found
myself within few PAGES of the largest
pan ther had ever seen in nay life.
For one moment It was Just as if I
had been frozen stiff, and then the
thought came to me just as if somebody
had spoken it: The big chest!'
II knew that this chest would hold
me and my children easily, and that I |
could leave chink of the lid open to let |
US breathe, for the overlapping edge
would save my fingers from the pan
ther. In a second [ had it all clear be- |:
fore me but. had not the brute stopped !
short at sight Of the curtain. should |
never have mad chance of trying it.
Luckily for me. the Indian panther,
savage as he is. is terrible coward, and
suspicious as any detective. I've seen
one go round and round trap for more
than half All hour before he made up his |
mind to spring at the bait. So, while |
my friend was puzzling himself over the
curtain, and wondering whether it was
meant for a trap or not, I took up Min
ME (who, poor little pet, seemed to know
there was something wrong, and never
uttered sound.) and into the chest 1
crept, making as little noise as could.
II was hardly settled there when 1
heard the sniff sniff of the panther
coming right up to where 1 Law, and.
through the chink that had left open.
the hot, foul breath came steaming in
upon my face almost making me sick.
1t seemed 10 bring my heart into nv
mouth when I heard his great claws
scraping the edge of the lid, and trying
to lift it up; but. happily, thechlnk was
too narrow for his paw to enter. But if