The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-11

stsalthy tread the beast came down to tn .
grassy. space. laid its burden upon the
low, peculiar cry. At once from the rocks
came the whclps, who ran to her, fawned
about her, and shifted %curiously at tho
child. After playing with her young ones a
few moments the panther backed away.
and, lying eroucled upon her launches,
whelps as they turned from her to the
child. They gamboled about it AZ kittens
might have done with a mouse, bouncing
upon it, striking it with their paws, and
pulling it hither and thither.
To add a browning horror to the specta-
ole. the boys, who had supposed that the
child was ~lifeleas, saw it move it's arms
and legs; then lift up its head and try to
crawl away from the g~amboling whslps.
One unspoken thought thrilled tho hearts
of both the boys: ''1he child must be req
oued! How shall We do it?"
barreled ducking guns. Horace had in his
pocket some bullets which fitted his piece,
but were too large for Joe's. At the first
glimpse Of the panther he had quietly
rolled n bullet down upon each charge in
the barrels of his gun. His comrads de-
pended npoa heavy loads of duck shot,
which would go compactly. almost with the
force of a ball, the distance of twenty-five
yards, which separated him from the pam
Their.
The boys feared to make the slightest
movement, lest at the first alarm the crea-
ture should seize the child and dart with it
to her retreat among the rocks. Both guns
were bearing on the breast. but orouched as
she was, with her prey lying between her
and them, they could not fire upon her
without the certainty of striking the child.
Even should she come into better view the
intervening bushes might cause their shots
and merei, wounded, the child would first
bear the brunt of her fury. The moments
went hard and anxiously to the two boys,
as with forefngers against the trigger, they
watched aud waited.
Meanwhile the panther lay pairing with
satisfaction at the performance Of her
young ones. When tho child had crawlsd a
little distance away she bounded after it
and brought it back to her whelps, tossing
il up into the air before them to excite them
to play. Th boy did not seem to be fright
ened or in pain, made no cutlery. but re-
newed it's efforts to crawl away.
It was a beautiful, %frightful scene, the
soft sunset glow, the grassy rocks, the
shadows, the verdurous tints of the little
grassy nmphitheater iecked with sun rays
siftsd through tho leaves above, ths sleek,
graceful animals at play, and the Innocent
child, unharmed and unfrightsned. its
somehow 1t had plucked.
A second and third time the panther
pounced upon tho child, 80 vigorously at
last, that the boys pressed hard against the
triggers on the very pointo Of firing instantly
at any risk. but once more their fingers re-
leased as they saw the beast drop the little
one before her whelps and, leaping back, |
lay with her head between her paws to
watch them at their sport with maternal
satisfaction.
The savage instincts of their nature were
arousing in the whelps, whose play became
Anrnan ao1 Eorna~ t. -aa .alas, kkAA ~lo,, |
lomping was drawing to an end, and that
things soon would take a deadly turn, when
the boys must aot at all risks. Hitherto
the cubs had caught and bitten, kitten-like,
at the homespun frook, but now, with out
stretched claws, they struck savagely at the
little cry as one sharp stroke tore a long
furrow in its chubby cheek. At the smell
md sight of blood the whelps became
wildly excited, and with cries and snarls
fell furiously upon their victim, while the
with ears laid back and 1.-the tail
swaying more quickly, seemed to smile at
the sight Of their f~srocity.
This bows from the boat could see that the
child, hurt and cowed at the fierce On
Rlaught of the young panthers, now lies
still. Seeming mutely to realize it's danger
that cries and struggles were useless, it
only softly sobs as theidavilish whelps tear
and worry it. . .aurafk =
Bat the panther-mother's cruel nature is
wakened At the flow Of blood, and the pale,
breathless watchers, with SGT, drawn faces
and eyes fixed upon her with answering
purpose, now see her rise from the ground
with a,ched back, and lips drawn up from
The white sharp teeth. With feline grace
shs comes lightly to her feet, standing be-
hind the child in the very act to pounce
apon it.
1t is the first chance she has offered for a
,hot.
Bang-g! both pieces roar together, and
he creature, struck foil in the face by. n
'hot and the heavy bullet, bounds straight
with a friahtful screech. Bang-g!
They have caught her again while she is
IT'LL in the air, and she comes to earth
aowling. rolling, rearing, clawing and bit
ng the green swatd, terribly wounded,
iazed and full of blind destructive fury.
The whelps have shot LIKE tawny s%treaks
% concealmsnt among the rocks; the child
i AZ turned its wondering eyes toward the
OF the firing rs if to see what other
danger has come to it; and. with
he echoes of their gun-shots yet r~attling
lmong the craGs of the shore, the two
,oys are out of the boat and upon the pan
her. desperately swinging down upon her
read and body their dubbed gums. Only
|oe stopped al instant to stoop md catch
he child, throwing 1t toward the shore into
!. hollow oarpetod with soft bracken, and
ItSA 0ho1 Ott thu w u LILO COJuIullOus
Upon the head of the savage beast Horace
hia gun stock as the panther rolls
,aHt, just missing him in Il wild plunge and
luteh OF the terrible claws.
Tn child is safe, and the breathless boys
raw back toward it. Here standing their
they watch their enemy which,
atally wounded at last, lies motionioss OK
spt for her painting flank. The ground is
with blood and torn with her
truggles. She ~revives, and with diving
crnwls in the direction her cubs have
AIKEN, and partly scaled the first large rock
n her way; then rolls backward dead, lying
pom her aide, with white breasts and teeth
outstretched claws turned toward hei
Tho boys Picked tbs child up and found
hat, except from some bruises and !
IT, was unhurt. II shrank and ,
omplained when it's back was touched, |
they found that while its stout frock i
for tho most part saved ii from teeth
claws. its back between tho shoulders !
IA discolorsd and swollen where ithe 9
anthet'a teeth, without breaking the skin, !
I'D bruised the flesh.
tsNn~ rnr tho ruhaiS uoroaa crtaJ hint