The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-22

dreaded the object hidden from view in
the thick clump of underbrush directly
ahead.
We, Bob and I, had stood in this
manner for several minutes. No game
was in sight and 1 began to grow i'm
patient. Fetch him out Bob, 1 sud-
denly exclaimed. whats the matter
with you?"
Bob looked at me, reproachfully
thought, and then made a dart at the
chapperal. Ny blood fairly froze at
what followed, and, in my terror and
excitement l dropped my gun and stood
there rooted to the spot like some
craven image. As Bob disappeared be-
hind an overhanging rock there broke
out upon the crisp morning air the
most awful scream that l had ever
heard, and then the forest echoes were
awakened by a succession of snarls,
grunts, squealings and another scream,
more awful, if possible, than the first.
Out of the underbrush into the open
then came, or rather bounded, the fig
ure of an enormous mountain lion, the
dreaded panther of the Sierras. In his
mouth he held a young pig, one of the
wild variety plentiful in that region.
After him bounded Bob, while follow
ing close upon Bob's heels came a large
sized boar.
The panther saw me and stopped.
What then followed happened in less
time than 1 could take to tell it. The
bristles on the boar's back stood up
like so many small spikes. His eyes
were bloodshot with passion. Foam
dropped from his mouth, out of which
protruded pair of wicked looking
tusks.
The boar was after that panther, and
the latter seemed to know it, for he
dropped his burden and started for
tree near where l stood. But the boar
was too quick for him. AS if thrown
from a catapult he hurled himself
against his tawny adversary, and with
one quick, upward rip had inflicted
ghastly wound in the panther's side.
The latter now turned and showed
fight. When the boar charged him
again he struck out with his mighty
paw and tore open the boar's flank
with his sharp claws, sending that ami
NAL rolling over with the force of the
blow.
Again and again the boar charged
only to be knocked over and terribly
gashed by the panther, who no longer
seemed to fear his enraged antagonist
During ali this time the noise of the
combat was deafening The boar
squealed and grunted with pain while
the ipanther kept up a succession of
growls and snarls, and added to this
were the excited barks OF Bob, who was
by no means a Gisinterested spectator
Both animals we're now becoming ex-
hausted and both were covered with
blood. Finally. in one charge, the boar
managed to rip open the panther's side
in such a way that the entrails pro-
truded from the wound. Then the
panther, with one last dying effort,
struck Tire boar a blow that sent him
flying backward a distance of several
feet.
The boar was still game, however.
and struggled to his feet for final
charge. The same look Of wicked
ferocity and determination CLEANED
from his little eyes. He managed to
reach the panther's sideland then tot
tered and fell One last grunt be gave
and rolled over dead.
The panther looked at his fallen ad-
versary and gave growl of triumph.
He raised his paw to strike, but his
strength was gone The paw fell on
the boar's head. and in this position the
panther breathed his last
By this time I had recovered myself
sufficiently 70 walk, although ! was
faint and sick from the excitement of
the scene I had just witnessed. Bob,
too. looked as IL he had quite enough
excitement for one day. We then
started for home
Bob" said l, - we trudged along.
"the next time you and 90 quail-sboot-
ing wei take Calling gun along for
euy emergency ~. I. Herald