The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-07-16
SAVED BY A PANTHER.

| HNNo ~ biS uuHh Ob II uCtb 4 ~
through"
We We're weather bound at q
Western inn, almost upon tho the
verge of civilization. The day jusl
passed had been a stormy one. and
we had got through it as best We
could. Now, as the darkness came
on early, aud the long evening
loomed up before us, we gathered
about the roaring fire of huge logs
which burned bravely upon the
hearth, and prepared to pass it
away by story telling-a device by
which travellers in our situation are
always prone to resort.
The man who had been appealed
to WAS person of about fifty years
OF age, who bad followed the occu-
patton Of a peddler. He had the
best tournout in the stable that
part Of the country had ever seen
in his line, though he told us that
he had alried a pack for years on
bis back. But by his own exertions
and industry he had risen above
that now, aud had a snug sum laid
up against the time when he should
give up the business, aud take the
remaining years of his life in an
easier way.
We gave our consent to bis con-
ditions and he at once commenced
his story.
''It rs nearly ffteen years ago
that The adventure betelI me which
| am about 10 relate. 1t WAS before
| gave up my pack for IA horse and
cart, though | had already made
up my mind that | could afford it.
| was travelling through a wild sec
tion OF the country-wilder, if pos
Siblc, than this around here. Be
tween the settlements there were
forests filed wild beasts, and now
and then YOU come upon a band of
rowing savages. Beside these,
there WAS the usual class OF Williams,
horse l!'rves, renegadeS, who
would moi llt state to take Il mans
life if iI,ry bought it would be to
their advantage to do SO.
"Ode ui4hi | stopped at a tavern
which stool ia the midst of a little
settlement Of not more than ii dozen
og,houses. | had been the round |
If them and drove what bargains ] |
could, and in ti,e morning | was TO
"a out at as eal ly an hour as posSi-
Die, for | learned that | had nearly |
l score Of miles to so before |
should reach the next settlement. |
'ln the evening there were as,
'embled in the 0ar-room all the |
male citizens OF the place, and |
lmong them was one whom |
1t once set down as a will lin. His
oOks plainly showed there was lit.
lie he would hesitate to do if in the
nd there was anything to gain.
Again and again | caught him look
ng at my pack, which | had in one
Orner OF the room, HeaF the bar
nd at once felt that he was look.
Ig at me TO calculate whether or
ot [ should bea dangerous antag-
mist in case he should rob me of it.
he more | saw of him the less
ked his looks, and ! felt relieved
hen at last he lett the room for
ONE.
81 was up betimes the next morn
ig, and as soon as | finished my
reaktast | started. As | left the
9ttlement behind me could not
clip glancing about to make sure
Ie man of whom | bad formed so
Dor an opinion was not following
e; but he was not to be seen. {
ardly any one was stirring out of |
1ors, and there was little life |
Icept about the tavern, or where |
Ie white smoke curled up above the &
'of of each cabin.
"Once within the forest | bur. a
ed on, desiring to put as great a q
as | could between me and D
e settlement in as little time as "
'ssible. A feeling of danger op. o
esscd me, which l found it i'm.
'ssible to shake of. l am not 81
.turally timid OF given to present. 81
entS, as many are, but on this n
casi0R there was a sort OF fear u
'on me of which l could not rid 81
vselt, try as hard as | might.
tAll the morning | kept on this in
~, aud by noon j felt that | had N
{ sgch o distance betW cen myself r.
d the settlement that | had no n
lger any cause to fear any one | es
d left behind me. ~
'sAs l had learned from the land .,
d that | should not be able to +
lch any human habitatOu before =
yhtfalI, | had taken my dinner p
ing With me, aud now, feeling tue =,
ed of it, sat down by the edge sg
a clear stream which crossed the 7.
III, and commenced my noontide -
al. Ouly a man who had walked !,
had done for the bread and meat II
ich had beeen provided for me,
! when the generous supply had
almost wished there q:
I been more. in
'The extra exertiOn / had made, W
! the hearty meal of which | had j
made me sleepy, aud, or
cling my pack under my head, l as
sed my eyes, thinking | would Nj
e a few minutes rest before vi
tinuing my journey. LO
i did not mean to 90 to sleep, be
IN less than Eve minutes / had nc