Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-01

pOlnb OF MS ponlaru, trying at the SAINT
time to find vulnerable spot, if it should
ever be necessary to kill her but the
hardness OF her bones made mia tTenlble
1t seemed as II such an attempt would be
unsuccessful the sultaness OF the desert
accepted the overtures OF her slave, raising
her head, stretching her neck. confessin2
her submission by the tranquility OF hei
attitude. Suddenly ne thought that
he might assassinate this feroclous
princess by . single blow of the
poniard aimed at her throat, and he
raised the blade, when the panther with
out doubt satisiedl lay graciously down al
his feet, throwing looks in which, spite oil
native tierceness, an air Of kindness was
confusedly mingled. The poor Provencal
ate his dates, leaning against one of the
palm trees, but he threw alternately an in
vestigating eye on the desert seeking there
some delIverauce} and upon his terrible
companion, to watch her uncertain elem
ency. She looked at the spot where the
dates fell, every time he shook one down,
and her eyes expressed deep distrust. She
examined him with commercial prudence,
ard this examination seemed favorable. for
when he had finished his meager repast,
the dust incrusted in their creases, with
her coarse, strong tongue.
But when she is hungry = thought the
Provencal. In spite Of the shiver which
the idea caused him, he undertook to meas
ure carefully the proportions of the PAN
ther, certainly one OF the finest specimens
of her kind, for she was three feet high
and four feet long, not including the tail.
This powerful weapon, round as a cudgel,
was nearly three feet in length. The head,
large as lions, was distinguished by a
rare expression of tineness, in which a
cold, tiger like cruelty prevailed it pos
sessed also a vague resemblance to the
physiognomy OF an artful woman. In
short, the face of this solitary queen re-
vealed, at this moment, kind of gayety
like that of a drunken Nero she had
quenched her thirst in blood, and was ready
to play. The soldier tried to 90 and come,
the panther left him free, contenting her.
self with following him with her eyes,
resembling less faithful dog than huge
augora, disturbed at everything, even at
the movements OF her master. When he
returned from a short walk he perceived
the remains of his horse beside the foun.
tain the panther had dragged his body so
far-about two-thirds of it were devoured.
This spectacle treasured him. It was easy,
in this way, to explain the panther's alb
sence and tie respect she had shown to
him during his sleep. Emboldened by this
first happiness to prepare for the future, he
conceived the hope of living comfortably
with the panther during the day, and he
neglected no means OF soothing her and
obtaining her good graces. Once when he
approached her he mad the inalfable happi.
ness of seeing her make an almost imper-
ceptible movement Of the tail.
Then he seated himself near her and they
began to play together. He took mold of
her paws, her nose, her ears he turned
her on her back and rubbed her warm silky
hanks. She entered into it all, and when
he tried to smooth the hair on her paws
she carefully crooked in her nails as if
drawing them into damask. The French
man, always keeping one hand on his
poniard, had half mind to plunge it into
the body OF this too confding panther, but
he was afraid of being strangled in the last
convulsion which might agitate her and
besides he felt in his heart a sort of renorse
which pleaded with him to respect so in
offensive creature. It seemed as il he had
found a friend in this limitless desert. He
thought involuntarily OF an early acquaint-
ance named Mignonne. This remem-
brance OF his youth suggested to
him to try and make the young panther,
whose agility, grace and suppleness he now
admired with less fear, answer to this
name. By the end OF the day he had be-
come familiarized with his perilois situa.
ton. He almost enjoyed his danger. At
length his companions began TO look at
him, when ne called in falsetto, Mignonne
At sunset Mignonne uttered at intervals a
profound and melancholy cry sc She has
been well educated" said the gay soldier
90 she is saying her prayers. Bat the
pleasantly aid not enter his mind until be
had observed the peaceful attitude taken
by the panther. Il will let thee lie down
first, my little blonde depending on his
own activity OF limb to flee and seek
another shelter for the night as soon as she
could be asleep. He waited impatiently
the opportunity of fight. 1t came,
and he set off vigorously in the
direction of the Nile. He had pro
ceeded hardly quarter of a
league in the sands when he heard the pam
ther leaping behind him and uttering from
time to time that saw-iike cry, more fear
full even than the heavy sound of her
bounds. "Ah," said he, ''she has taken n
liking to me. This young panther has
never seen anybody before she is pleased
with her first friend" At this moment he
fell down in the moving sands, SO fearful
for travellers, and from which it is almost
impossible for them to extricate them
selves. He felt himself seized and ut
tered cry of alarm. The panther gripped
his collar with her teeth and leapipg vigor-
ously backward drew him from the gulf rs
if by magic.
"Ah, Mignonue, cried the soldier, car
essing her enthusiastically, SIT is hence
forth matter of life and death between
us we Will have no more jesting."
And he retraced his steps.
From this time the desert was for him
inhabited. Il held another being to whom
he could speak, whose ferocity for him was
softened. l. was not in his power to ex-
plain this incredible friendship. He felt q
strong desire to stand throughout the night
and keep guard, but in spite OF this he
slept. When he awoke Mignonne was
gone. He assembled the hill and perceived
her in the distance, leaping and bounding
according TO the habit Of these animals,
who are prevented from racing by the ex
treme fexibility OF their vertebrsl column
Miguonpe returned with bloody lips. She
received the caresses given by her com
panion, testifying her pleasure by many
heavy rourou's." Her eyes, full of gen
tleness, turned upon him even more softly
than on the previous evening. He talked
m her ~ to domestic animal
"Ah, miss, you are good girl are n
you? Do you understand that? Who
likes to be fondled Aren't you ashamed
You have devoured some poor Maugrabin
Well, that is like all beasts. But don't g
and crunch up the Frenehman-then
won't love you any more.
She played with her master like young
dog, allowing him to roll her, to pat and
fatter her by turns, and sometimes she
provoked him to it by holding out a paw
with an inviting gesture. Some days passed
in this way. The panther's society gave
the Provencal leisure to admire the sub
lime beauties of the desert. From tht
moment that this latter offered him food