Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-11-14

Clyde heaped the dry limbs upon
the fire, and the dogs, usually As
brave as lions, whined piteously a.
they skElked close to bis feet.
He waited in breathless anxiety
for several minutes, but could hear
nothing except the cracking OF the
fire, which now threw vide circle
of light, and the night wind among
the trees.
Soon. following magnetism
which he could not account for, he
fixed bis gaze upon : tall tree near
the base OF the mountain and en-.
countered the glare of two fierce,
yellow eyes.
A panther was crouching there
upon long limb, every nerve OF his
body in motion as he prepared for
the fatal spring.
To aim and fire at him was the
impulse of second, and the tawny
brute sprang outward with snarl
of rage and pain, and fell squarely
into the fire.
There was an unearthly shrek, .
smell of burning hair, shower Of
Goals and lighted wood, then the
brute stood wounded and blinded
near the tree.
"At him, boys; at him !" cried
Clyde.
And the dogs closed on him, but,
wounded as he was, he was more
than match for them.
He killed one and sent the others
bowling to q safe distance before
their master could surely aim the
second bullet, which quieted him.
He was not an instant to soon,
however, for there came another
terrific scream, this time from the
tree directly over his head.
I'm ready for you now p he
cried, cody sighting another panth-
er squarely between the scintillating
eyes.
He fired and sprang aside, while
the animal fell, struck the ground
with heavy thud, clawed the earth
and air conyulsiyely for few Sec
onds and then lay quite still.
"This is getting quite interesting"
muttered Clyde grimly eying the
two huge. tawny bodies, the dead
dog and the skulking living ones,
while he threw fresh wood upon the
scattered fire and peered in every
direction.
Meow! Meow! Sct-ttl'
He turned sharply to see the heads
of two panther cubs thrust out OF
the hole near the tree, their ears laid
close to their round heads and their
eyes sweeping the scene in fierce in
quiry.
"Ha, ha A regular family party
I've stumbled on laughed Clyde.
"S-s-s ! Seek 'em boysl"
And the dogs pulled one kitten
out to his death, while the other
scrambled back in the hole.
Suddenly there was slight noise
in the edge of the forest, and two
half grown panthers came cautious.
ly into the circle of the light, sniff.
ing the air uneasily and evidently
afraid of a trap.
The smell of the scorched hair
and the binding glare Of the fire
puzzled them.
But Clyde did not wait for them
to become satisfied with the safety
of an attack. He fired two shots in
quick succession, killing one animal
and wounding the other, which the
dogs attacked at once.
When the sharp, short fight wae
over, one dog limped back to receive
the praise of his master, while the
other lay dead beside Its dead foe.
"You and are alone now, Brave
my boy" said his master, patting
the dogs head. "Well, when day.
light comes we'll see after that little
varmit in the hole"
The night passed without further
molestation, but Clyde kept the fire
burning brightly while he busted
himself SHINING three of the pan.
thers-the one which had sprung in
to the fire being worthless.
Two were monstrous brutes, male
and female, evidently the parents Of
the smaller pair as well as the kit
tens.
After generous breakfast oil
roasted venison he enlarged the hole
with his pick and shovel, and, after
examining his revolvers, crept in
cautiously with lighted torch
while the dog remained outside
protesting against such foolhardy
conduct by dismal whelps and
whines.