Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-12-13
THE PANTHER'S PREY.
Vivid Description Of Tragedy in
the Sunshine.


the cliff-at the top Of ragged wall
which rose almost four hundred feet
FROM the green grass of tho valley. From
my porch could see for fifty miles to
the west.
Nature never made more perfect day
in the Western mountains. Every
thing, living or dead, was bathed in sun
shine, and there was such intense quiet
ness that heard the swish of u buzz
Yards wings as he sailed over my head
30 high that he seemed no larger than a
robin.
1 turn from the distant landscape and
look down into the valley. Half mile
from the foot OF the wall-yet seeming
scarce stones throw away-is camp
1ire-a camp fire which smolders and
sends up thin, lazy column of blue
smoke. Thirty feot from the fire, lying
on the broad of his back on the grass,
with hat over his face, is human fig
ure. 1t is that of an Indian. You can
tell that by his position
1t is camp, then the camp Of pair
or trio Of Indian hunters belonging to
the reservation. 1t is their land, and if
there is any trespassing am tho guilty
one. Where this hunters companions
arc know not, but they have left him
alone for the time, and he has improved
the opportunity to sleep. So quiet-so
peaceful-so flooded with sunshine that
10 spot can be safer for one bound in
the chains Of slumber.
Look! Five hundred feet beyond the
body is q cedar thiclSet. Between tho
body and the thicket are scattered
rocks-a sort of out-crop. My eye was
simply passing over this ground when
IL detected movement. in the thicket.
For a. long minute keep my gaze fast
Gncd on the spot, and for some unex-
planned reason my heart beats faster.
Was it deer? A grizzly would hardly
he found there. Perhaps it is wild
horse, or q steer which has broken from
the herd over tho ridge. l watch and
wait.
Good ITeavensl A great tawny beast
Elidcs out of the thiclcet and stands for
moment smiling the air. 1t is tho
panther of the mountains-agile, fierce
and having the strength OF tho tiger! Tho
scent comes down to him on the breeze,
though I can not feel q breath of air
stirring. lie sri1fS to the right, to tho
left; he points straight at the sleeping
man. Death has marked down a victim.
Now watch! The beast sinks down to
tho earth, stretches out paw-pulls
lis body along the grass shows O. sup
Pleness which oven tho tiger can not
display. The FIRST roclE Is to his loft
Eve yards away. Ho seeks tho cover of
it, and his every motion reminds one Of
cat. lie flattens his body-creeps-
e"Gwls-reachcs the rock and for
moment is hidden. Then 1 sec him
peering from the left hand side. Has
his victim moved? No! lie still sleeps
IN tho warm sunshine, and his. lease Of
Life is reduced to minutes.
The panther moves out for the cover
Of the second rock. lie is holder now.
He seems to realize that his victim is
helpless. Lie cnouchcs and creeps, lift
lug each fore paw slowly and with tho
greatest care, He docs not make a, halt
of moro than sixty seconds behind tho
second. rock. lie leaves it with bound
which carries him fifteen feet, and in
ton seconds he is there.
know what Is going to happen and
havo rifle In my hands, but Z make
NO movo. forget for the time that 1
h.we thepowcr to. The march of q thou
saud men down the valley could not
draw myoycs away from that sight.
Tho panther seems to sink into the
earth behind tho store for mouscat.
Then SEQ his head rising above it rs
lo places his paws on the stone Ills
cars arc laid fiat, his lip drops down and
slows his teeth, and I know that his
eyes are glowing like living Goals. 1t
b for$y feet TO- tho sleeping Indian.
viii some magnetic influence warn him
"t isporn? Win somo unseen signal
Bring his companions back in time2
Nor My heart stands still as the
hoaa OF the, panther disappears. It. Is
scarcely u second before his body rises
hlSo great bird leaving the earth,. and
sS his second bound he alights full
upon the slcepor's breast, with savage
shrek. There is, wild yell--a strug-