Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-16
" Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and gray,-n

| BLACK spirits and white,
Red spirits and gray"
and wasn't much comforted bv nv hus
bands assurance that that sort of thin.
happened every day, and that | woult
soon get used to it. But all this time In
neglecting my story.
One day lit will be long enough before
forget it), my husband was out rs usua
at his work,and the nurse had gone dow
to the other native servants at the end O
the " compound" as we call this big in
closure; and was left alone in the house
with my little Minnie yonder, who wa.
then Just about year old BY this tim,
L had gotten over my first fears, and did
not mind bit being left by myself; in
deed, al the lower windows having bar,
across them, thought that | was safe
enough; but little dreamed of what WA,
coming
L must have been sitting over nv sew
ing nearly an hour, with the child plavipo
about the floor beside me, when suddenly
l heard dull lhump overhead,as if some
thing had fallen upon the roof. | didn't
think anything of it ut the moment, for
one gets used TO all sorts of strange sound,
IN the Indian jungle; but presently
thought | could hear heavy breathing in
the next room but one, and then I began
to feel frightened in earnest | rose a,
softly as | conldand crept to the door way
between the rooms. This doorway was
only closed by curtain. and gently pail
ing aside the folds, peepcd through
and found myself within few PAGES of
the largest panther l ever saw, and he
was looking straight into my ewes!
For one moment was too frightened
to move. and then the thought came to me
Just as if somebody had spoken it: The
big chest
L knew that this chest would hold me
and my child easily,and that could leave
! cElnk OF the lid open to let us breathe.
Tor the overlapping edge would save nv
nngers from the panther. In second I
mad it all clear before me; but had the
brute not stopped short at sight of the enr.
AIN, Should never have had II chance of
rylng it. Luckily for me, the Indian
panther, savage as he is, is terrible cow
'rd, and suspicious us any detective. I've
een one go round and round trap for
more than half an hour, before maxine
Up his mind to spring at the bait. So
While my friend was pulling himself
'ver the curtain, and wondering whether
was meant for a trap OF not, | took nm
llnnle (who. poor little pet, seemed tn
inow there was something wrong, and
lever uttered Il sound), and into the chest
ccrept, making as little noise us could
L was hardly settled there when I heard
he sniff, sniff of the panther COMING
ISht up to where lay, and through the
mink that had left open, the hot, foul
reath came steaming in upon nv face,
most making me sick. 1t seemed to
ring my heart into my mouth when l
card ms great claws scraping the edge
the lid, and trying to lift it up, but hap.
ly, the chink was too narrow for his
wv to enter. But if the paw couldn't. .
e tongue could and soon he began to
TX my fingers, rasping them so that |
'rdly knew how to bear it. Still, the
UGH of Minnie's little arm around nv
'ck, seemed to give me courage.
but there was far worse than this to
mei for the panther suddenly leaped
5ht on top of the chest. and the weight
essed down the heavy lid upon my fin
RS, until the pain was SO terrible that.
able to stand it any longer, l screamed
tn all my might.
Inc scream was answered by shout.
I'm just outside, in which I recoonized
husbands voice, The panther heard
100, and it seemed to scare him. for he
lde dash for the window, either for
ting Or not noticing the iron bars; but
t as he reached it, there came the crack
. rifle, and | heard tho heavy brute
suddenly upon the floor. Then all
fright seemed to come back upon me
once, and tainted.
heard afterward that Mr.. R-.bad
opened to want some instrument which
mad lett at the house; and not wishing
rust 1t in the hands of any of the native
came back for it himself-uckily lust d
lme' Tor the bullet from his rifle killed Il
panther. But, as you sec, my hand is wr
'tty still yet.-S. Nicholas. MI