Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-11-10

homeward track. Nothing had been
seen OF the panther.
On the Warner side of the mountain
late III the afternoon, the hounds of one
of the parties made Il great outcry. 1t
was III swamp, not far from the Good.
win pasture. The men hurried to the
spot, jumping stones and bushes and
the trunks of fallen trees in their haste.
They met the dogs coming back. Tw,
of them had bloody muzzles. and bore
hidc"us wounds on their bodies.
''Ihe dogs have had hold OF some
thing. and something has had hold OF
thrm.' said one of the men, quantity.
Its Il painters work; | know the
marks of their claws
The hunters went through the swamp
cautiously. The dogs would not 20
back again. No trace of the panther
was found. Disappointed and weary,
they proceeded down the mountain to-
ward the settlement.
What is thaty' asked one of the
men, suddenly.
A sound like that of some one shout
in@ was plainly heard. They all stop.
ped to listen. The shout was repeated,
and was not far oil.
Its my boy! It's Charley voicer'
cried Goodwin. "He must be alive"
and he rushed in the direction of the
sound
AT the foot of the hill before spoken
of. in GCodwin's pasture. there was q
large ledge of rocks. Toward that the
party hastened.
''CharIey! Charley! where are your
shouted the pioneer
''licre | am," replied the little fcl-
.low-''down here in the rock. 1 can't
get up
Several of the party had already
mounted the ledge. and they now saw
what was the matter. There was Il
crevice or crack running through the
rock from top to bottom. all the way
from foot to a foot and Il half in width.
Into this lissure the boy had fallen. and
rs the sides were steep and smooth he
could not possibly climb out. A hazel
withe was cut, and one end given him,
and he was speedily drawn to the sur
face.
GLOW came you in there. Charley?'
asked his father.
Il fell in" answered the boy. 81
was out there under that maple when
the panther jumped onto Tige l ran
to the top of this rock, and stumbling,
fell down in there. The panther came
several times and tried to reach me,
but he couldn't. Oh, I'm SO tired and
hungryr'
"We'll be at home soon," said his
father. ''Your mother will be looking
! for YOU"
They fastened toward the cabin with
| eager footsteps, and soon met the other
party, who were returning from fruit
less search for boy or panther. Just
then the report of gun was heard at
| the settlement.
''What does that mean?" asked a
brawny pioneer.
81 don't know" answered Goodwin.
''SOmething must be the matter"
The party FASTENED their steps to a
run.
At the close of the long afternoon,
Dolly Goodwin, girl of about sixteen,
had gone out to do the milking. The
| cows had not been turned to pasture
that day, but had been kept in an in
closure near the barn, shut in by a stone
wall eight feet high.
Her mother had objected to Dolly's
doing this. ''Father will be at home
soon," she said, "and there will be
time enough then"
But Dolly, who was a busy little
body, insisted. "lf you are afraid for
me, will take my gun. You won't
have to worry, then. The cows really
ought to be MIXED, for it almost dark.
Besides. Brindle and Loo like me-"
The girl took down small, pretty
musket from its place over the deer
antlers; it was her own. purchased the
year before from her own savings.
The yard seemed safe, cozy place,
and Dolly felt like smiling at her moth
er's fears as she sat down on stool and
began milking one of the gentle, mild
| eyed animals that were cOmplacently
chewing their cuds., She had one OF
the pals about filled, when there was a
sudden disturbance among the horned
inmates of the inclosure.
Dolly rose to her feet and gazed
around, grasping her musket in both
| w Cslu SCC INV SuC lOOhCu-
a thin slip of girl, with bare feet and
ankles, gown of linsey-woosley, her
gingham bonnet thrown back from her
curls, and hanging to her neck by its
fastened strings. The red in her cheeks
and the flash in her eye made her look
very charming.
Her quick eye soon caught glance
of 1.-THE, cat-like animal creeping
stealthily along the high stone wall
Its glaring eyes, the long undulatine
tail, and the tawny- -colored hide told
well enough the character of the intru.
der. She knew it was panther.
Dolly's heart rose into her throat,
and for a moment, as she said after
ward, she thought she should run as
poor Brindle had done. But she was &
pioneer girl. strong and healthy, and
and her nerves were soon under control.
She raised her weapon to her shoulder
and leveled it full at the tawny breas,
of the crouching panrner.
Her aim was taken instantly. She
saw the greenish eyes glitter, and the
long tail lash the wall excitedly. Th.
next moment the savage beast sprane
toward her. At the same moment hel
finger pressed the trigger.
She knew no more until she heard
the baying of the hounds and the loud
cries of the returning hunters. Hel
father opened the heavy wooden gate,
and came in where she was leaning hall
fainting against the wall.
Il am all right now, father" SAID
Dolly, in reply to his anxious interroga
ton, 'but l was kind of sick like &
while ago"