Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-05-25

| where tie dreadful dog Tiger
prowled. he began 10 wonder some
what whether he would modest him
Il hardly think he will" he thought
to himself. for / have never been
disturbed on horseback. and | don't
know of any one else who has" But
he looked sharply as he came oppo-
site the little dark building: all was
still, however. Nothing could be
seen Of Tiger" Yet knowing his
treacherOus nature. the lad kept
glancing back for some time after
passing. Failing to discern him. he
concluded that til" brute was only
partial to foot travellers at night.
About half way between Georges
home and Strrrix's house was little
valley through the bed of which ran
a small stream. while trees and under
brush lined both sides 1t was rather
Il lonely place at night, and though
young Wood was a sturdy, brave
fellow. he always felt shiver as he
entered the gloomy depths. and drew
a sigh of relief when he emerged on
the other side.
just before reaching the gully the
pony gave slight start and faint
neigh, which somewhat alarmed
George. He got his rifle ready and
glanced anxiously around He could
hardly expect to discern anything in
such darkness, bat turning to look
back along the road, over which he
had just passed, he spied Tiger"
coming stealthily after him.
The dog stopped the instant the
horse did. and stood motionless in
the road looking straight at the boy,
who surveyed hira with feelings any
thing but comfortable.
He has been sneaLing along in his
usual way" muttered George, wait
ing for a good chance to bite the
horse or me"
The lad was strongly tempted to
raise his gun and shoot the pest, but
he felt he had not quite as much ex
cuse as he wisheds and he feared, too,
that Sturrix would find out who had
done it and make trouble.
But I'll be ready for him." thought
the boy. IF he springs at the pony
or me, will be the end of him.
He started his horse, but to his
astonishment the pony refused to
enter the shadow. He snorted and
reared and kept backing away from
the spot in a manner which showed
that it was not the dog behind him
that had excited his alarm, but some
thing in front.
George was at loss what to do.
Evidently there was something in the
gully which caused the fright of the
horse; for he absolutely refused to
advance and a moment later the
nature of the danger was made abun-
dainty manifest by a deep, ravenous
growl from out the darkness. AT the
same instant George saw, or fancied
he saw, the phosphorescent glow of a
pair of eyes staring at him from
among the larga branches of the
trees.
4 With that gro~i George felt the
pony first cringe and tremble benenth
him; then frantlcally rearing and
wheeling about in spite of the rein,
the frightened creature dashed back
along the road Here stood old
"Iiger," biding his chance; as the
pony wheeled he leaped to seize him
by the nose, but missed his grip and
was knocked headlong into the ditch
i On bounded the pony, but had
scarcely taken half a dozen leaps,
when George heard frightful yelp
behind them, followed instantly by a
hideous cholus of mingled growls,
shrieks and all the noises of a terrific
battle.
Old "Tiger" and the creature which
George had heard i'll the gully had
met and were engaged in desperate
combat The boy had little doubt
that it was panther; but for the
time being he had all he could attend
to, to keep his seat and hang to the
rifle: nor was he able to pull up his
frightened steed till he had run back
near Sturrix's house. Dismounting
here he led the pony up to the door
and knocked, thinking it matter in
which the surly nld settler might be
interested.
But Sturrix h,mself was not at
home that night; nor could his
frightened wife bs induced to unba1
the door.
Even now George could hear the
noise of the battle from out toward
the gully. Tying the pony to a post,
he cooked his rifle and stood listening
At length the outcries ceased; and
after a while George went out along
the road a few rods, to see if he could
; ascertain what the result of the con-
} fict had been. Presently, as he stood
} staring into the gloom, he espied the
} form of some animal advancing up
the road at slow, cautious walk.
At first sight he thought it was old
, ''Tiger," and concluded that the dog
, had killed his antagonist. But in
, either case he felt sure he would have
, to shoot, and dropped on one knee in
the road to take aim. The instant he
stirred, the creature crouched and
growled He knew then it was the
panther. Getting as good an aim as
possible, he fired at the beast, which
bounded up off the ground with a
fearful yelp. then went rolling over
and over with frightful outcries.
AS soon as he had fired George ran
, back to the house 70 reload; and after
, a while the outcries ceasing, he
mounted the pony and urged him
along the road. Two. dark forms lay
: outstretched in the ditch; and our
/ hero had little doubt that they were
the carcasses of his late enemies.
, The pony showing no further re-
luctance to proceed, he rode home
. ward at brisk rate, where he told
; his father of his evenings adventure.
Next morning they set off to visit
the scene of combat and, on emerg
J ing from the gully, the first object
| which met their eyes was Sturrix
{ gloomily surveying the bodies of both
! the panther and cid Tiger" which
he had hauled out Of the ditch into the
p,il1lo of {ba b,r1xyo1-