Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1888-1899, 1892-06-23

The long. smaii-hore vine. which ga
Cor many years the favorlte weapon ~
che American baekwoodsman, and we're
accompanied BY . vast pack Of dog. u
every possible shape. color aud mir.
turc; but they were q determined ana
experienced lot Of hunters. and In this
Christmas chase evideatly intended
combining business with pleasure. and
energy aud purpose was In every eve aa
they divided into their appointed
companies and srt ou, Cor the DAY.
Dallas cabin was left 20 the care ~
his wife and only daughter. q girl of
perhaps hfteen years - sgc. and soon
after the hunters had started away
Mrs Dalin mounted her riding horse
and set forth 10 visit 9 neighborlns
matron, living three or four miles dis,
tanL giving her daughter dir~ctions a.
10 the care ~ the baby and the prep
aration - dinner At the usual hour. as
che expected to return by that time.
sallie Dulin was too well used to the
life ~ the woods 20 fear anything be.
falling her simply because she VAS
alone In a cabin = mile or two from
the nearest nelghbor's Everything
went well, and the dinner was simmer.
ing In the fireplace. the baby quietly
sleeping In its cradle. aud Salhe her
self busily knitting al q stocking. when
suddenly she was startled by q mo-,
unearthly voice from the woods close
behind the house. II was a cry a. ~ q
maniac In mortal agony; Wild,
- - A. A a a.
~ frozs the blood in her veins.
The duur 20 the cabin stood wid.
oprn, and Sallirs first move was 10
rush 81 u and close "a, fastening Il from
within with its heavy wooden latch.
There Was no window Ia the little
house, and although she surveyed as
much II the yard a. possible through
sundry places where the ''ehinking''
bad druppcd from between the logs,
she could sce nothing alarming. and. a.
the cry was no, repeated. she hogan 10
L. almost persuaded that she bad i'm
aginrd u all, when again tat blood
curdlinK cry rose, this time close ~
hand, aud instantly followed by the
sound - snms heavy badly lighting on
the ruof. proving that the animal. what
ever u was was ~ no common activity.
The cabin was rooted, pioneer fashion.
with split ''clapboar,ls" held In place
~ heavy poles. and the movement q
the animal caused = few % the clap
boards "a he Displaced. letting light
into the semi-darkness ~ the ruosn l,e.
low. Sallie had snatchrd the bale Qua
Of IL cradle aud stood in the center q
the room. terribly frightened. but
plucky and ready "a Az for safety u "a
became necessary Looking mp through
the new made opening Ia the roof. she
could make out the shape 81 some huge
gray beast. aud q great paw. armed
with terrible claws striking the clap
boards until they few right aud left
like chips from the az u . skillfui
wooisman
u was evident that the panther. Zoe
such sall,s now recognized the beast 10
-, was determined 10 enter the hous.,
-. quickly stepping 90 the door. shs
carefully raised the latch aud stood. nut
yet daring to 90 outside. aud vet afraid
o. remain too long within. A sudden
slipping ~ the clapl,0ards under the
pantheT's feet a. enlarged the hole that
be Slipped aud fell. much o. his sur.
prise, rear end foremost. down into the
roam. sallle saw her chance, aud a.
the panther came In at the roof she fed
cut al the door, with the child IN her
arms, and closing the door from the
outside - she ran. Once with the stout