The National tribune., 1889-10-17

my hat would probably do more for me than
my gun, SO | crushed the former on my head,
seized the latter, aud faced the enemy.
THE PANTHER MEANWHILE HAD FLooRED A
BEATER,
and got him by the arm but, dropping him, ii
Mt once came for me with lightning bounds. i
could see nothing, owing to the beasts tremen-
dous speed but shadowy. looking form, with
two large, bright, round eyes fixed upon me
with an unmeauing stare as 1t literally flew
towards me. Such was tho vision Of a mo.
mcnt ~ | raised my gun and fired
with all the care ! could Mt such short notice.
But missed, and the panther bounded light
as feather with its arms around my shoulders.
Thus we stood for q few seconds, and | dis
tnctly felt the animal shifting for my throat.
Mechanically always turned my head so as to
keep the thick, wadded curtain of my helmet
cover in front of tho creatures muZzle; but
still could hear and feel plainly the rapid yet
cautious efforts it was making to find an open
ing so as to tear open the jugular vein. | had
no other weapon but my gun, which was use
less with the animal closely embracing me- so
] stood perfectly still, we'll knowing that San
ford would liberate me If it were possible to do
so. u # As may easily bc supposed the animal
did not spend much time in investigating the
nature of wadded hat cover aud before my
friend could get round aud take an aim without
ieopardizing my life the beast bounced on my
left elbow, taking piece out, and then buried
its long sharp fangs in the joint till they met.
At the same time was hurled TO the earth
with such force that | knew not how | got
there or what became of my gun. ! was lying
on the ground with the panther on top of me,
and ! could feel my elbow. oint webbing in
and out ms tho brute ground its jaws with II
movement mpercoptible TO the bystanders but
which felt TO me as ii ! were being violently
shaken all over Now / listened anxiously for
the sound of Sanlords rifle, which | knew
would be heard Immediately, and carefully
RETAINED from making the slightest sound or
movement lest his aim should he disturbed
thereby. In few seconds the loud and well
come detonation which from its proximity
nearly dealenod me, struck upon my ear. |
sat up. | was free! The panther gOne!" Gone
with n two.ouncc ball through its body just
behind the forc-arml Safely cnsconced In an
other clump of cactus, from which it retreated
TO n thicket Of "kornda, acacia and other thorn
bushes" which were set on fire with rockets.
:" lust as the interior of the bushes became
lighted up and the cracking of the blazing
heritage was Mt its loudost the animal, reused to
frenzy by tho overwhelming nature of the
attack grded itself up for last desperate
effort. IL rushed from the now untenable
hiding place. swift aud straight as an arrow,
upon myself aud Sanford. tCOl. Barras, though,
as it turned out, crippled for life had taken
"A boar.spear as soon MS his arm was bandagod).
lie fired both barrels of his rifle at the beast,
hut without stopping it in the least. We
had just time to open one pace outwards
from each other, aud the momentum with
which the animal was moving almost car
ried IL past us. AS it brushed my right leg.
however. saw it twist its supple neck aud
literally stop itself by casping sanford thigh
in its extended jaws. bearing him down to the
ground, where they lay for moment in Il close
! embrace | "a mn adiuEtpi bn lphtu1
the shoulder Of the animal, aud with a steady
push drove il right through the heart. Franks
also fired at the same instant so ii would be
difficult TO say which OF us actually caused the
panther to give up its last breath. It was
dead, however. though still maintaining the po.
stion of life and It's teeth were so firmly locked
in the flesh OF its foe that was unable with
one hand to open the jaws, which felt like iron
TO the touch"