Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-08-11

almost hopeless, he saw the great ami
NAL who followed him pause at the
verge of the pool. survey the situation.
and then lie quietly down with the evil
dent intention of biding his time now
that his prey was within easy reach.
Ned's heart utterly failed him. n l''
For few moments he was but partial
" conscious, for he was only boy, and
the peril that threatened him was hOr-
rible, indeed, but after little his blood
ran more evenly and his heart beat. less
| furiously as he noted the quietness of
his savage captor. He was a prisoner
now, and his only hope was that the
panther might retire, or that some one
in search of him might come to his res:
cue. And with these two chances foi
escape before him he grew Drawer and
settled himself for along and watchfu
vigil. ~
How slowly the moments passed, he
thought! Once he heard a distant call.
and half starting to his feet he was about
to shout reply, when rustic from the
bushes on the edge-of the pool sent a
chill through him, and he sank down
again while the animal opposite him ut
tered warning half growl and moved
uneasily.- As time went on the night
grew cold and a damp mist crept up
from the swamp, floating like q long
winding sheet in and out among the
black clumps of bushes, and chilling
poor Ned until he shivered as with the
ague. The stars moved slowly across
the deep. blue vault above, some climb
ing to the zenith where they hung as
far-away lamps for time, then as slow
~ descending again, others circling in
grand procession about invisible orbits
OF their own. There was no moon and
the night had a gray and grewsome look
to the despairing boy. There came mo-
ments when his eyes would close inspite
| of everything, and terrible drowsiness
sweep over him, then he would awaken
with start and peer anxiouslv toward
where the panther lay. but that, great
beast remained motionlesS, and the
weary hours dragged on.
/ AT last, and 1T seemed to the boy that
he had passeda month upon his desert
island, at last, away in the east, dim
line of pearEcolOred light appeared.
Very gradually it widened, then became
tinged at first with purple. afterward
with crimson; long rays of silver shot
up the sky that as they grew changed
to ruddy gold, the little birds in the
woods awoke aud began to call one to
the other cheerily. soft wind crept out
| of the bosom of the coming dawn, and
rolling the night mists into a great
white cloud whisked them away down
the valley; sounds of life from the fields
about became audible, horn was blown
from beyond the hill. the light increased
in strength, the golden color centered
in single spot upon the horizon, and
then, in majesty undiminished since
first the world began, the sun arose; it
was morning!
Filled with new life and courage, Ned
turned his eyes from the glorious east
and looked towards his enemy, and be-
hold the horrid phantom of the dark
ness was gone, and in its place there
stood, black and friendly, with open
mouth and wagging tail, not pan
ther but Jim .Harrington's old dog
Major. Il tt,i - III vi AIo.
Joining in the search for the lost ball
the day before, the animal had wan
dered deep into the swamp and missed
his master; then meeting Ned as he
journeyed homeward he had followed
him, and dog-like had waited an night
at his post, no doubt wondering in his
canine way why his new friend
sought so damp a couch, but faith
full to the end. Ned's parents had
supposed their son to be with his
friends, his friends supposed him safe
at home, and so it was that no search
had been made for him. But the story
of the night vigil in the cranberry
swamp was too good to keep a secret,
and the boy himself toldit when home
was reached, so that have violated no
trust in giving the tale to the public
F.-E. Hamilton. IN Christian Union.