Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-11-17

rection when we were startled by thu
long, fierce scream OF the panther
itself As nearly as we could Judge Il
was at that very moment at the base
Of the cliff. We stopped involuntarily
ut the sound, and then went stealing
down the slope, with eyes watchful
and nerves stretched TO the utmost.
Yet we went on and on, without seeing
II and suddenly found ourselves almost
at the base Of the cliff. which had been
hidden by the thick and tangled brush
through which we had passed.
Then we stopped and looked around.
peering here and there through the
bushes. II was easy TO see that the
spot Of ground on which we stood had
been the haunt OF some wild animal,
for all about us bones lay bleaching on
the ground. But nothing was to be
seen. The face OF the cliff, up TO a
height Of twelve or fifteen feet was
covered with the matted tendrils Of a
dead vine, apparently. II suddenly oc-
CURED to me that the panthers den
might be back under the cliff, hidden
by the vine, and was about to investi-
gate when just behind us, not ten feet
away, sounded the horrible scream of
the panther.
Both OF us whirled, and Car limos
stepped back little. In the moment of
confusion failed to notice him, but in
an instant he gave a heart-rending cry:
"Help helpl quick, the treel The
man-eating treer'
Never will forget that cry, nor the
sight that met my eyes. In stepping
back he had stumbled against the dead
vine, as had thought It, And then in
a moment every tendril had become in
stinct with life, and was twisting and
writing about him with the most hor-
ribly snake-like motions, matted around
his body and legs, holding his arms
tight and drawn across his face and
clasped about his throat. Already
when looked around he was helpless.
During the single moment while stood
there looking at him motionless with
horror his face had begun to turn pur-
pie. And then all at once I recovered
myself a little, and snatching my hunt
ing knife from my belt began cutting
and slashing Mt the horrible, writhing
tendrils in the effort TO cut their victim
loose.
But before had made three strokes
something caught my arm and held IL;
then something crawled swiftly about
my neck, and then there were others
around my hands, over my head, across
my face-everywhere at once I was
seized and held, while wherever the
snalSy monsters touched went fierce
pains, rs though my flesh were being
torn from my body. felt my con-
seriousness slipping away; but as II was
going suddenly the dark face Of Fer
rara peered out of the bushes in front
of me, and he cried out with moclking
laughter:
The panther Is not far away, believe
mel Only wait for him until he comes.
Adiosl Adiosr'
The shock Of anger reused me little
in the midst OF my raclSing torture,
and saw Farrara turn TO go away;
but all at once, amid chorus OF male
dictions, dozen hands seized him and
pinioned him down, and we were sur
rounded by q crowd OF laborers from
the plantation. With long knives they
cut and hacked at the limbs that were
sucking the blood from our veins, and
In n few moments they had us free.
How they got us home | never knew.
1t was not until the next day that re-
covered consciousness, and | was un.
able to turn in my bed even. for two
weeks. The excavations on my face
and hands left painful wounds, which
were n long time in healing, and which
made dreadful scars. These have all
gone, however, except the one on my
neck, which resembles the scar left by
a centipede.
AS for Carlinos, he lay rs II dead for
several days, and there were times
when he was pronounced really dead.
Then he went off into fever and deliri.
UNI, and it seemed that no could not
possibly recover After awhile,
though, he did struggle back into life,
but his health was wrecked, and he
was never again able to walk as much
US hundred yards.
Low did we happen to be rescuedP
Why, some OF Ferraras fellow serv-
ants had heard his muttered impreca-
tions against us, and, when we had gone
and they saw him sneak away after us,
they held n consultation and decided to
follow. have always believed that
Ferrara circled around us, got in ahead
and initiated the cry of the panther
himself to lure us on. have never
been able to find out, however. When
had regained strength enough to feel
some little curiosity, and asked one Of
our recusers what they had done with
Ferrara, he answered with the utmost
unconcern:
I'VE gave him to the man. eating tree.
senorln