The morning call., 1893-05-07
He ORDERED THE PANTHER INTO THE CAVE.

little life creep back to me- | felt that
could get the better of the man. but was
afraid Of the panthers. He looked at me
a moment and then opened his mouth and
In the same horrible voice said:
" For three days you have hunted for me-.
and now here we are. What do you wish?'
AS did not sneak, he went on:
My name is E.on; what is yOurs?'
1t was quite while before | could open
my mouth, but when did l felt better all
at ce,sand as he had laid the weapons
down had very little fear and told him all
about myself and the curiosity l had 10 see
such wonderful man.
He listened until l had finished and
SAID as had wished to pay him a visit
should have the best OF his hospitality but
could not DEPART until l had stayed with
him over night
He seemed gentle enough and began to
lose my fear, and when he led the way in-
side requesting me to follow l did so with
out reluctance
The entrance to the cave was very small,
but the chamber inside was large and as
dark as any dungeon.
hlon lighted a most peculiar-looking
lamp OF bronze and set it on a stone block
in the center of the chamber that did duty
as table. Not much light came from it
but such as did showed the inside Of the
cave TO be as much artificial as natural. In
many places the walls wers smooth and
covered with inscriptions of some language
unknown TO me. Chairs of heavy wood
were around the room and a number of the
Queerest-l0oking articles.
while was surveying the cave my host
went to one OF the fartheSt corners aud re-
turned with an odd-shaped bottle and a vase
made oil some sort of pottery. He set both
on the table and said, Eat and drink
But did not see any way TO open the
pecuiiarloOking things, and said SO. He
looked at me moment, aud then taking
the bottle struck the neck of it on the stone
table and it broke off pretty far down. leay-
ing vessel almost the shape Of a tumbIer
to drink out of. He treated the vase the
same way. only it broke in TWO, leaving a
pair OF bowls, both containing a substance
like sausage meat.
Il was somewhat afraid to touch the
things, but lie assured me that all was right,
and aftee moments reflection l came to
the conclusion that it was better 10 die by
poison than to be torn to pieces by the
hungry-looking panthers that had helped
escort me to this strange place.
The bottle contained a colorleSs fluid that
proved to be wine when l had tasted il, and
preparation. but l couldn't make out what
it was. However. both refreshed me con-
siderable. and felt like talking.
'Aon first told me that the wine was
several thousand years old, and that the
other stuH was very ancient preparation.
lie refused to touch either, and said that lie
was so old lie would never need food any
more. lie did not say what his age was
but spoke Of things that happened centuries
ago. He said that lie had lived in the cave
for several hundred years, and had seen
MANY changes come over his country. The
panthers were as old as he was, and were
his best friends and companions They
wonld never violate any order OF his, and
understood every word lie said in every
language that had ever been spoken on the
face of the earth. He knew all the lam
guageS. he said. and | spoke TO him in about
thirty. and he always answered correctly.
lie had met many people in the last fifty
years, but j was the first person that had
been in his cave for centuries.
How spent that day. boys, is more than
can say. 1t seemed like ages, aud when L
think OF IL now 1t seems like only few
hours. But we talked on hour after hour
until the entrance to the cave began to
grow dark and l knew that night was conf
ing on.
will show You to your sleeping cham
Der, said K.On, where you must pass the
night, and in the moTGing you can go to
your home Taking the lamp he led the
way down long tunnel and pushed open
door that led into large chamber where
bright light was burning. Showing ME the
bed, which was large stone affair in tue
center OF the room, he left, closing the door
after him, and l could hear the lock click
and knew that / was a prisoner.
Il went to the bed and lay down, and
had almost gone TO sleep when l was
startled by snlfiing near my ear, and OPEN
ing my eyes saw the largest panther glaring
at me.
81 was paralyzsd with fear ard felt that
Elou had led me here to take this awful
means of ending my life. Ia a fe W moments
tke other panther came out OF the shadows
of the corners OF the room and came to-
ward where l was lying. All made iump
at once and climbed into the bed with me.
! could not move through fear and my brain
was in whirl. The beasts kept getting
closer and closer to me, and | couid feel
their tough, cold and almost hairless bodies
close 10 mine. | could sea their sunken
eyes and feel their breath on NV face but
was pOwerless TO move.
Il just lay there and looked at the Iann
This was all that kept me conscious. for In
short time 1t gave futter and was in Z
darkness, and at the same instant the hid
eous beasts beside me began TO lick my face
with their foul tongues.
This was too much, and my already shat
tered nerves gave way under the strain and
the panthers vanished with my conscions-
ness.
This must have happened about mid
night, and the next thing / knew | vas
lying in my camp between the rocks with
my rifle and revolver beside me. How | got
out of the cave is a mystery to me.
looked up and could see the ledge runnino
along the face of the cliff and the fiat spoi
in front of Hlon's door. But had no de-
sire TO 60 back and see that gentleman so
came to camp as quick as | could and. AZ
you all know, got here late at night Now
boys, that's my story, and want you ali 10
tell ME what you think of it,"
But nobody was willing to give ar
opinion on the subject and all departed fni
their cabins, leaving Sam alone beside TN.
dying nre. WILL SPARKS.
Tucson. Ariz.. May %.