The Portland daily press., 1893-09-22
ror some reason py the OLDER ones.

Tor some reason by the older ones.
'eWhat was to be done with me was
now most important question to me.
The old ones did not seem as if they
wanted to devour me nor let the cubs do
it. But this the cubs objected to and
commenced on my feet, which were bad
" bitten before the old ones could stop
them. Then one of the boldest Of the
cubs made rush for my throat, but |
kept him away with my arm.
ssThis seemed to anger the old PAN
theirs, for, they chased the young ones
back to the cave and then took hold OF
me again and started somewhere.
..They went faster than before, and it
was not long, although it seemed ages to
me, before I was laid down on the
ground. 1 opened my eyes and found
that was in front of the door of the
hotel. looked again and saw that 1T
was open, and that the panthers were sit
ting down and watching me- closely.
But the temptation was too great, and
had to seize the chance of escape, al
though it looked like certain death.
II made sudden jump and got inside
the door and closed it after me as the
two beasts threw their huge bodies
against it.
81 was now safe and commenced call
ing the landlord and wondered why he
had not heard the fight. 1t was also
evident that he had got up and opened
the door. But no landlord came, and as
it seemed to me I had looked in every
part of the house before gave up find
ing him and went to my room, where
everything was just as had left it, ex-
cept that the candle had gone out, but
the fire was burning brightly.
II wanted to wash my wounds, and
as there was not much water in the
pitcher on the stand I went out to the
basin of the fountain. 1t was most re-
freshing to let the soft cold water fall
sover my head, and in a short time did
not feel the least bit as if I had been
through suchta terrible struggle. | sat
down on one Of the seats in the court for
some time before going to bed, but the
moonlight, flower trees and the splash
ing fountain were not long in producing
feeling of drowsiness SO that when
laid down was asleep in an instant.
"When awoke, it was late in the day,
and the sun was streaming in all around
me. For several minutes I was dunn
founded and wondered how got into
the place where | was.
sit was the same room in which had
laid down to sleep, but it looked as If
nobody had entered it for 100 years. l
was lying on pile of rubbish, and ev-
erything around me was in the last
stages of decay. got up and went into
the court, but the fountain was dry, and
nothing could be seen but crumblng
walls. There was no sign Of vegetation,
and the trees and flowers had vanished
with the water.
81 was in an awful state of mind and
thought at first that had slept in that
room for years and years. But when /
made my way to the outer door by climb
ing over rubbish and fallen timbers and
looked out the first thing saw was the
two dead panthers. and short distance
off my horse, with his saddle still on
him, tied to a cactus.
'sMy mind was in a whirl, but I had
no desire to SKIN Jhe animals, so gOG Oh
my horse and went to Nogales as fast as
could, where I put in several days doc
toring my wounds and getting my mind
back into it's natural state.
81 did not attempt to solve the lnys-
terry, as I felt sure the whole affair was
supernatural, and the sooner can for
get it the better will feel"
The crowd had all been silent during
Fred's story, and most of them had al
lowed their pipes to go out, but when
he had finished several commenced to
ask questions. But all were glad they
had not passed night in the old place
and said they did not blame Fred for not
wanting to go there again.-San Fran.
cisco Call.