The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-28
A Call From a Panther.

A Call From a Panther.
II suppose you're wondering why 1 |
keep that ugly old chest" said Mrs. r.,
sand must own that it's not very orna-
mental; but it saved my life once, for all |
that. I see you think I'm making fun Of |
you, but I'm not, indeed; and when you
hear the story, think you'll agree with
me that have good reason to value it,
ugly as it looks.
first came out to India, my husband was
sent to make the survey of the Nerbudda
Valley, one of the widest bits in all
Central India; and we really were, just at
first, the only white people within forty
or fifty miles. And such a time as we
had of it! If my husband han't been as
strong as he is, and perfect mircale of
| patience as we'll, don't know how he
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-al-
ways doing everything wrong, and never
liking anybody to put them rig ht. When
the railway was being made, they used
to carry the earth on their heads in bas-
kets and when Mr.. r. served out wheelbar-
rows to them, they actually carried them
on their heads in the same way! couldn't
help laughing at it, though it was terri
bly, 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 hus-
: band was going to throw away; and when
the man came in next morning, he had
positively turned them into earrings, and
) went about quite gravely with port in
one ear and Sherry in the other.
"However, if the native men worried
=. me, the native beasts were fifty times
: worse. 1t was no joke, can assure you,
). to be awakened in the middle of the
!, night by the roar of tiger close under
8 the window, or by an elephant crashing
and trumpeting through the jungle with a
e noise like mail-coach going full gallop
s into dollhouse. Well, as soon as that
was over, the jackals would set up a
t squealing and whimpering like so many
J, frightened children; and then a dreadful
: native bird, whose name I've never found
: out Il suppose because nobody could in.
r vent one bad enaugh for it), would break
out in succession Of the most horrible
,, cries-just like somebody murdered
: until the noise fairly drove me wild.
e "And then the ants! but you've seer
q them for yourself, and needn't tell yo,
e about them. But all this while I'm neg
Letting my story. .... 1884,.
It zone day lit will be long enough be
l. fore forget iD, my husband was out a
e usual at his work, and the nurse had gon
n down to the other native servants at tn
3. end of the compound, as we call this biz
Enclosure; and I was left alone in tn
house with my little Minnie yonder, VIII
was then just about year old. By thi
time had got over my first fears, AM
ir didn't mind bit being left by myself
indeed, all the lower windows, havin
N bars across them, I thought that wa
safe enough; but little dreamed of wha
was coming!
g II must have been sitting over m
RI sewing nearly an hour, with the chill
81 playing about the floor beside me, whe
r suddenly heard dull thump overhead
or as If something had fallen upon the roo
I didn't think anything of it at the mo
ment, for one soon gets used to all sort
IN of strange sounds in the Indian jungle
H. but, presently, thought I could hear
heavy breathing in the next room but on
I'd and then began to feel frightened
i'll earnest. I rose as softly as could, an
IN crept to the doorway between the room
This doorway was only closed by Gu
IS tain, and gently pulling aside the fold
M pecped through-and found myse
II within few PAGES of the largest panth'
had ever seen in my life!
- "For one moment it was just as if
VI VI had been frozen stiff, and then Il
W thought came to me, just as if somebo0
~ had spoken it, sThe big chest!'
II knew that this chest would hold n
n and my child easy, and that could lea,
he chink of the lid open to let us breath
st, for the overlapping edge would sa'
7er my finger from the panther. In secor
had it all clear before me but had Il
is brute not stopped short at sight of Il
rst curtain, should never had chance
IN trying it. Luckily for me, the Indis
ry- panther, savage as he is, is terrible COY
ard; and suspicious as any detective. T.
,qn seen one 60 round and round a trap
t;ll more than half an hour, before he MAJ
or up his mind to spring at the bait. s
ICE while my friend was puzzling himse
over the curtain, and wondering whether
o,e was meant for trap or not, took ,
e ~ Minnie (who, poor little pet, seemed
tha know there was something wrong, al
tho never uttered sound) and into the che
a,e crept, making as little noise as l coul
No II was hardly settled there when
heard the 'sniff.snifF of the panther COZ
., ing right up to where lay, and, throus
= the chlnk that had left open, the b
ing foul breath came streaming in upon n
er; face, almost making me sick. 1t SCENE
ave to bring my heart into my mouth whe1
heard his great claws scraping the ed
it'll of the lid, and trying to lift it up; b
,at- happily, the chink was too narrow +
per his paw to enter. But if the paw couldt
m the tongue could; and soon he began
TIL lick my fingers, rasping them SO thai