The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-03-22

| It might be his brother. and mechau-
ically put out his elbow, only to prod
that worthy in the ribs and to wake
him up also. Both men then suddenly
sat up together and beheld. lying right
at their feet and looking up longingly al
the string OF tempting birds, an enor.
nous panther-at least John said II
seemed gigantic. Both gave q frightened
yell, and the panther. frightened per.
haps more than they, spfang up. bounded
of into the brush and was gone. The
men caught up their rides and pursued
it, but not another sight of it did they
get.
Travelling across country one summer
day with several heads OF horses, John
made camp as evening approached on
the edge of thicket of live oak and
mesquite that bordered the Arkansas
river bottoms. He tethered the horses
on the open prairie near by and then
went into the thicket for firewood. Re-
turning with small armful and
scrambling through the dense bushes
into a small open space. he suddenly
came on large panther lying asleep
full length on the ground, and another
a few yards away sitting on its
launches regarding him. The panther
on guard gave muvled purr. and the
other cat sat up quickly and glanced
around. Then it walked leisurely
across the small clearing and sat down
by its mate. Neither showed the least
desire to run, and John. taken by sur
prise, stood looking at them. as they at
him. He had no weapons, and he
knew better than to make tracks. For
tunately with the firewood he had
gathered was stout mesquite stick,
about as heavy as base ball bat, and,
taking that in hand for club, started
across the open space past the pam
theirs toward the camp.
The big felines got up, but did not
retreat as he came within forty or fifty
feet of them, and as he struck into the
bushes again the largest one walked
slowly after him, perhaps more in
curiosity than otherwise. John was
within hundred yards of camp now
and he made dash for the prairie,
and / dare say, came as near lowering
the running record for the distance as
the thicket and brush would let him.
As he burst from the bushes TO where
his packs and rifle lay another panther,
to all appearance considerably fright
ened. sprang past him into the thicket.
This fellow had been. with spirit OF
Investigation, turning Johns packs
over. had clawed his saddle-bags open
and eaten part Of a fresh rabbit that
had been intended for supper. John
quickly buckled on his revolver, seized
MS Winchester and started after the
asst panther. but could see nothing of
t. Then he went back to the small |
open space where he had seen the two
'ats and found they had disappeared |
llso. He hunted the thicket for half a |
nile back and forth. till it got too dark |
o see, and returning to camp ate a |
ute Of bread and canned stuff aud pre-
Jared to turn in. Before doing so, |
However, he thought of mare and colt |
Imong his horses and afraid that the |
'anthers might spring on the colt and
lrag it beyond reach of the mothers
ether before she could interfere, went
nut and turned the mare loose with a
lalter on. That night. for the first time
q his life, he had his rife for bed fell
ow and his six-shooter where he
ould catch it up in q moment.
'0thing disturbed his slumbers
III nearly morning. when he was
uddenly Weakened by a commotion
mong the horses and a galloping OF
oofs that came rapidly nearer, and
be mare and her colt emerged from
be darkness, dashed forward. almost
nnning over him. and then stopped by
i'm.
With rifle in hand he peeped into
ne darkness, but he could see nothing.
ut the mare had turned about and
e observed that the sharper-eyed ami
'e~A SSuAo SOO oOAuCtukuk III tlle Qdrk-
ess. John watched her closely and
resently she began to show unsual
excitement, putting her ears back and
EretchiDg out her neck and head,
looking devilish, T" as John said. He
'llowed her glance and then could
arely distinguish dark object close
the ground coming near them.
He fred quickly. point blank. The
anther raised itself on its hind legs.
lther slightly wounded or stung by
le dust and gravel that the bullet
cked up. and then, pumping another
lrtridge into his rife, John fired again
ore steadily. There was mufied {
'wling and growing and. to use {
bins expressive vernacular, that
hat painter just cussed his LUCK fur :,
tout minute. and then disappeared.
hen daylight came John took the I
are back among the other horses and
thered her again, and then taking up | 4