Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-05-01

been an hour, but I awokc nj last with
start and sense Of some great danger
hanging over me. did not start up or
move hand or foot. A certain something,
I could not tell what, seemed to calm
me down.
Opened my eyes and looked about
me, but saw nothing; and | was just
on the point of making motion to got
on my feet when ! heard tho slight
cracking of II branch above my head
Looking up in the direction of the sound
| bchcld u sight which almost fr6ze the
marrow in my bones, and seemed to
turn my blood to ice. A huge panther
was crouching there, ready for q spring
upon me.
As motioness az one dead | lay aud
gazed at my terrible enemy. To stir rs
much IA q hand or foot | know would
be the signal for the beast to spring up
on me. It's fiery eyes were fixed upon
my face, and it's tail was gently waving
to and fro like TINT Of u cat.
Hope of escape there seemed none.
My doom was sealed. The panther had
mo as surely in his power rs though at
TINT very moment his sharp claws were
fastened in my flesh.
The agony of those few moments !
shall remember to my dying day. 1t
haunts me in my Sleep and often start
up in alright, dreaming that the terri
bio scene is being enacted over again.
All at once the fiery eyes of the pan
Their were turned from mo and fixed
upon some object % little further to the
right. What could ID mcaa! What
new danger was approaching mo from
that dircction' BY turning my head n
little was enabled to soc what it was.
A man was creeping toward mo with Il
knife in his hand, IIs was not o dozen
fcot from where lay, and vt tho first
glance ! recognized him.
Ii was the man whom | had made up
my mind was villain, in tho tavern,
the night before, and whom feared all
the forenoon might be following me.
Tho prcsontimcnt | had then WAS not
gronmdlcss. But / had not counted upon
u double danger.
Cautiously the villain crept toward
me, with q murdcrOus look in his eyes.
A glance showed mo that one thing was
evident. The villain, while he sought
to murder me, was not aware Of his own
danger; for the panther no longer kept
his eyes fixed upon me. 1t was watch
ing every motion of the villain, and
each instant l was expecting that it
would leap down upon him.
If it would only do so before he reach
cd my side it would prove my salvation.
Closer and closer the villain drew to-
ward me. Only a moment more and he
would he SO near me that he could reach
me with his outstretchcd hand. There
was not an instant to be lost, and was
just on the point of springing to my feet
when, quick as flash of lightning, the
panther cl # the air and landed square
ty upon the shoulders of tho villain,
with his fangs and claws buried deep in
his flesh. A horrible cry of terror and
rage burst from his lips as he went down
with his blood dycing the earth. At the
same instant was upon my feet, and
drawing u pistol, sent a bullet through
tho heart of the beast. II did its work
well, though even in death the brute
clung to his victim, aud when at last
his struggles were over, pulled it from
the bleeding man and saw it had also
done its work. The impress Of death
was on the villains brow, and in few
moments he was dead.
| left them both lying there and hur-
ried on to tho next settlement, where !
told my story. With help ! returned,
and the dead man was carried back to
his home, where no ono seemed to care
for his fate.
In my home l have the skin Of the
panther stuffed, and should you ever
come my way, gentlemen, | will be
pleased to show it to you. There, yon
have my story. Now the next.