New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-18
TIE LlDY AND rHE PAxrHER.
A TRUE STORY or AN UNPLEASANT NIGHT.

A TRUE STORY or AN UNPLEASANT NIGHT.
a. In The Queen. PISA .tr. ..- al,
reasons First on account OF the great heat, which
had been Intensely uncomfortable this season while
secondly because OF almost unheard-oi visitation,
regular plague Of mosquitoes. The pcrnlclons cuie1
Of %s hs biz zee s Me aiSs s
go that gladly accepted an Invitation from or
friends The SIS to visit them q pe,nFe99 que spot
rangement suited admirably, as We had already
made up our minds to proceed as soon as Gould Ees
away 10 Maneran, delightful hin resort with tne
braeing air. sl;gaiet 81 tho Ghauis, md which AFFORDS
an agreeable relief during the hot season to large
number Of iaded Bombay officials on my arrival az
Belle Vista found that some other Oh SIS friends
had Unexpectedly asked 10 be put up and were paeci
fore Insisted that no change should be .madc n the
family arrangements on my account AZ my earnest
solicitation was allowed TO have my wa, ana taae
thirty yards from the house; and which found mine
host was using as study. The removal OF hIs
quickly replaced by the necessary furniture OF BED
room. soon found everything arranged 10 my mind
and ! congratulated myself upon having secured me
coolest and most delightful sleeping apartment W
the place. The lookout from the door was one OF
exceptional beauty. The moon shOne out clear and
soft over the whole landscape before me-
Having done great deal thai day. was very srea
my only companion, took up nor usual place AZ the
foot OF my bed. / orept under the mosquito curtains
Sss swaened by the rowl,ns and barking Of Fdget
looked s]eeply up, and thought saw an apmal ol
some Kind standing at ihe foot OF my bed. reused
myself little. clapped my hands, and made noise
Ths made the beast hurry away j turned 0Vof and
was once more fast asleep was not, however, per
FIdget soog sci up fiercer bark Than before. i
started up and shoated and soon bad The satisfaction
-of seeing what thought 10 be either Wild cat
or pie-dog stink out through the chnk left In the
tent ! must have boon very sleepy, as never for q
moment thought that was IN any danger, and again
/ lay down and went OF 70 sleep. But my little dog
was on tho watch, and for the third Tine va
awas1ed and startled By her loud bSrsns e an ~
the moon caught sight Of big animal standing IN
the doorway q my tent had no Longer any doubt
Its eyes flashing FIRE, and Il was lashing is long
tail furously TO and FRO, as II really meant mischief
In moment more a. seemed on the point OF making
a spring at mo and / could no longer doubt that 4
was bent on making meal on my dog or myself
/ In no way, however lost my presence OF mind, as
cansed the beast to beat retreat. Ie walled slowly
s only the e wax 9fn arSSa he outside q the n ana
enter BY another opening; which brought nm some,
cntcbcd at my candles and matches and oplcAy struck
Tight. This together Win my shouting ara me cog
/ also took in my Travelling. clock thipkng that Il
the worst came TO the worst, could at least give the
looked al the lime to sec If 1t was near day. and
foend 70 my horror that u was only quarter 70 2.
I felt my hair would turn gray u J sat al night
seemed so unusually daring not certain tiat be
would stand such trifng any longer SO te courage
thing 70 pass the rest OF the night IN safety but tho
worst was had 10 come out OF my protective cntans
20 do so, for tent Is such desdener Of sound
knew no one could hear mo from there. SO ont
Jumped securing Fdget well under the curtains. aud
ran TO the brightest doorway. and screamed first foi
one and then the other at the top Of my voice
put my hand 10 my mouth called in every way
could think, but not soul heard me. The servant.
were too far away and The SIS, whose room looked
on my side, too fast asleep, with their Windows
shut. SO l made mp my mind could stay there nc
longer. any minute felt the beast might return. 81
] made dash for my dressing gown, slipped into my
my me- Unfortunately. l could not tell whore The
animal was, and tho dark shrbbery, with trees ever
head. looked Just the place Tor him 10 hide; but
had TO take my chances and felt had more In max
ing a run than staying where / was. / shall nevel
| forget that ] ran as II fifty bulls behnf
| me, leaving my slippers the path. and tumbn;
| up the stops, I into the veranda painting.
| OF the house, and, knocking loudly, called ont A" Mr.
| g., there Is panther I'm my tentH You car
| Imagine tie oommotlon every about IN few
seconds the gentlemen all seized their guns, and raj
out 10 sec there was any chance of shot. and wa
made great fuss OF every said what a wonderful
escape had had. They saw no more Of the panther
but the next morning ve heard tina
he made for the house OF another friend some distance
of and there he attempted 10 carry Oh big EngliSl
bulldog which no found asleep 10 the inner yeranda
Foriulately the cries Of tho dog brought the servant
10 fhe rcee but not before Ia throat and face hal
been frighfful,y manlcd. Ny friends all Of thu
opinion that the mosquito curtains saved my life. tn
| boast. was evidently very hungry, and was at on
| moment preparing % spring upon rs, but BE wa
for some kind OF tTap. But never for moment los
my presence OF mind this and the watclfulness OF M
little dog enabled mo 10 beat "a safe retreat, AIT
/ escape the Jaws OF my midnight visitor.