Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-05

The poor lad knew not what to do;
every moment he expected that they
would spring upon him and tear him to
pieces. Then after another long, trem-
ulous pause he backed off few steps
more Again the sportive brutes
wriggled along by his side.
Finally the young hunter in his back
ward course came to large log, and
feeling very weak from the long strain
on his nerves, sat, almost fainting, down
on it. The panthers drew up nearer, and
resting their jowls on their paws
watched him unwinkingly.
What would not Tom now have given
to be out of his dangerous situation, and
safe at home again!
He inwardly berated himself for a fool
for coming back when he was once safe
~ away. After sitting on the log for q
long time he mustered his strength and
courage sufficiently to draw his legs up
on it and get upon his feet on the other
side. The panthers backed slowly, too,
and kept equal pace with him, one on
each side. 1t is impossible to say what
whim possessed the animals. They
would not let him get away, nor did they
seem to wish to throttle him.
At length Tom quickened his back
ward walk little, but they kept their
positions, moving faster as he did. He
dared not turn his back on them, but as
saying to move little faster tripped
over some brush and fell fiat on his
back. With this both brutes rose to
their feet and stood over him, one even
putting out his paw and feeling softly of
the despairing young hunters arm.
Expecting every minute to be throt-
tied, and so worn by this time that he
scarce cared if he were, Tom closed his
eyes. unable longer to endure the saw
age ixedness of their gaze. Presently
he felt one of them lick his boot Then
one of them smelled him all the way
from his hand up to his face. the cold
shivers Of horror running through the
poor fellow all the while. Venturing to
unclOse his eyes after time, he dimly
saw both panthers sitting up hard by,
as if holding a silent consultation over
him.
By and by one Smelled him again
even licking his hand once or twice-at-
tentlOns which sent Shudder to the
boys heart, for he expected to feel the
beast crunch it the next moment between
its jaws.
Tom thinks that full half-hour
passed in this way. He was just bring
ing his courage to the point of ventur-
ing to rise and back off again, when he
heard the panthers scratching on the
ground. He peeped, and saw that they
were clawing up dry leaves and bits of
brush on each side. These they drew
up about his person, and he perceived
that an effort was in progress to bury
him, as something to be kept for future
eating.
Tom lay quite still, having no desire
to interrupt his own obsequies, and
gradually the animals covered him with
a thin covering, mainly of dead leaves.
For some time they sat about like two big
cats after dinner. Presently one of them
uttered plaintive little yoac! and started
to walk back to the bones of the deer.
The other followed, and for little
while, as they walked softly away, Tom
same plaintive, minor key. It may have
been kind of feline requiem for what
they had buried, or else yawn for nap
to which their late hearty dinner had
predisposed them.
Tom waited only till, by the sounds,
he judged that they must be out of sight
and hearing, then slipped out of his
shallow grave and started off through
the swamp toward home at his best pace,
1t was too late when he got home to
organize panther hunt that day, but
the next morning, accompanied by his
father, grandfather and several neigh
bors, Tom again visited the click" They
set several traps, but neither of the
pantherS was seen or caught.
Their odd behavior on this occasion
may be set down as another of the queer
traits which naturalists have from time
to time recorded of the .Jelis concolor.-
Youths Companion