Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-08-15


Once or twice he paused for a moment
to sniff the air, and then came on, lap
ping up the blood had lost, as deliber-
ately as ever.
When he was within ten feet of me
began counting the seconds which were
likely to elapse before he reached my
We unded side.
no longer felt the pains in the wound
i was only conscious of one thing in
the universe-the pasther.
Nearer and nearer he came with APP
parent regardlessness as to how far away
the source of his enjoyment might be-
At last, either glimpse at me, or a
sudden realization that he was uncom-
fortably near the abiding place of men,
caused him to pause and settle backward
on his launches, with slight growI.
A swift undulant culver ran over him,
as if he contemplated springing at me-
but if this was his idea, he at once
changed his mind, got up and resumed
tapping my blood.
Such light breeze as there was blew
toward me from him, foul with the nause-
Gus odors of fetid breath
Again twig snapped.
Was it the boysl
Oh, if it was only they-if help were
only at hand
dared not attempt raising myself to
see, the panther was now so near; and so
| pressed every energy into the business
of listening.
But aside from the slight poise made
by the breathing of the blood-lapping
brute, could hear nothing.
Nearer and nearer yet came the pan
ther-now less than two feet away.
Oh, why didn't they shoot, if the boys
were there, as they must be-why did
they suffer the prolouging of agonies
which must have been so palpable to
them2
Once again the panther lifted his head
and shifted
Satisfied that no danger was menac
ing him, he took to tapping once more.
The sun was nearly down. Looking
across the lake | saw Its last rays paling
ON the western hills.
My hope of rescue waned with it.
Long before sunset time came again
should be dead OF that l now felt Ger
tain.
The panther, though, gave me no time
for moraliNug.
He had reached my wounded side.
The bandages interfered with his
pleasure, and with a low growl of impa-
thence he lifted paw and struck them
away.
Then felt his rough tongue lick the
blood from my torn flesh.
A groan of anguish escaped me, he
hurt me so.
Answering it with another growl, he
lifted his head, poking his fouI-smelling
nose into my very face.
1t is said that the human eye has pow
or to intimidate dumb beats, even in des-
perate quarters; but my eyes, full
though they must nave been of the
strength Of hopeless despair mad no APP
parent effect on him.
He seemed to regard me contcmptu-
ouSly, for, drawing in his breath ana
giving a little snort in my face, he ac.
tually spatterei spray of my own blood
in my mouth and eyes.
"Quick! whispered low voice Just
outside the slanty.
My heart gave mighty and joyous
leap. Help was at hand after all,
With Il more menacing growl, the
panther crouche back on his launches,
his head up aud his nostriIs quivering,
listening intently.
But only for moment.
Either disdain or thirst soon overcame
his curiosity.
Again he gave a little snort, leaned
forward and resumed tapping away at
my now vigorously bleeding wound.
Despair rcassertci its reign.
What were the boys waiting for?
No doubt they were there, for | had
heard not only the swapping of the twigs
but that one whispered word as we'll.
Couldn't they sec that the monster be-
side me was tapping my life away!
Were they afraid we're they hooking
newly didn't they fire.
That rough, awful, tearing tongue
seemed to lick straight through my quiv-
ering body, into my very heart. fhe
pain from it made me sick and faint.
Again there we're sounds in my cars
ringing sounds, as of many bells; and
roaring sounds, as of mighty and ada
cent waterfaIls-and with these swift
and bewildering alterations of vivid
light and total darkness in my eyes. And
through it all the cutting, drawing pain
from that tireless tongue. each second
growing more intense. o God, would it
never end
Crack-bangl
The noise of rifle and shotgun.
fred so nearly at the same instant that
they gave an almost simultaneous report
Then the pain in my side stopped, and
the panther screamed out and clawed the
earth as if in mortal agony.
There was confused murmur of cx-
cited voices, the noise of rushing about,
great tumble of soulls altogether.
Presently some ones hand was thrust
through my shirt and placed over my
heart. and some ones voice said: owe
were in good tlme-he is all right And
then 50 weak was | that with the CON
sciousuess of safety came the utter un
consciousness Of all things -Nep York
Docoryfs.