The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-01-23

outward with asparl 81. ragesand pain
and iel squarely into tho fire. Their,
was an unearthly shrek. smell o
burning hair. shower OF Goals and
lighted wood then the brute sto0t
wounded and blinded near. the tree
LAT him, boys; at him!" cried Clyds
And tho dogs closed on him. but
wounded az he WA he was mors
than q match for thsm. He killet
one aud sent tho others no wling TO q
safe distance before their master could
surely aim the second bullet which
quieted him. He was not an instant
too soon however. for there came
another terrific scream. this time from
the tree directly over his head
.rm ready for you nowr' he cried.
coolly sighting another panther direct
ly between the scintillating eyes. i
He fired and sprang aside while the
animal fell struck the ground with q
heavy thud. clawed the earth and air
convulsively. for a few seconds and
then lay quite still. This II getting
interesting" muttered Clyde grimly
cycling 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-t-t!"
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 inquiry.
"Ha hal A regular family party I've
stumbled on, laughed Clyde. "S-s-s!
Seek 'em. boysr'i WI gf
And the dogs pulled one kitten out
to his death. while the others scrambled
back In the hole. Suddenly there was
slight noise In the edge of the forest
and two half-grown panthers came
cautiously into the circle OF the light
smiling 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 of the safety OF an
attack. He fred two shots in quick
succession killing one animal and
badly wounding the other. which the
dogs attacked at once. When the
sharp, short fight was over. one dog
limped back to receive the praise OF
his master. while the other lay dead
beside his dead foe.
You and are alone now, Brave,
my boy" said his MASTER patting the
dogs head. well, when daylight
comes we'll see after that little varmint
In tho hole"
The night passed without further
molestation. but Clyde kept the fire
burning brightly while he busied him
self in skinning three OF the panthers
the one which had sprung into the
fire being worthless. Two were mon
strous brutes. male and female evil
IDENTIFY the parents OF the smaller pair
as we'll as the kittens. After gener-
GUS breakfast OF roasted venison he
enlarged the hole with pick and shovel,
and after examining his revolvers.
crept in cautiously with a lighted
torch, while the dog remained outside
protesting against such foolhardy con-
duct by dismal yelps and whines.
The cavity under the spreading
roots was deserted but a larger open
ing led into the rocky mountain side,
and through this the astonished young
man crept to ind himself In natural
cavern. He soon discovered and killed
the kitten, but could find no signs OF
any more. The floor of the cave was
covered with bones, and neatly made
most OF sticks and leaves was in one
corner. But Clyde did not notice
these; he was examining the rocky
sides which were OF a peculiar grayish
stone.
There was smile OF satisfaction on
his face when he had finished this ex-
and when he crept forth
into daylight again he muttered,
tweaking Braves ears until the dog
yelped in pain and wonder: Queen
Bess is mine. Brave! There's gold |
enough there to satisfy even George |
should say. and l claim 1t |
as the panther's beQuest-"
George Randolf could say no more
although he insisted on visiting the
panther's den to see for himself
"Some folks are lucky" he admitted
If that mine Is worth
800. 900 you can have her, for Ran
lolf never goes back on his word"
That was only a year ago and the
nine has already netted its owner over
$500, 600. But he regards as dearer
prize the loving wife who rules his
heart and home--his Queen Bess. -
Night. a}gA