The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-30


fix. 1t seemed to be looking at me while
/ was looking about the rooms and STIR
ring the fire, which was necessary be-
cause the place is high and the nights
arc cold.
"It must have been about midnight
when I blew out the candle and got into
bed. Oh, how cold the sheets We're. 1t
made me feel as if was getting into @
coffin. But it did not make much differ
ence, and was soon doing off, but was
too tired to go to sleep at once.
'As lay there it seemed to me I saw
u pink flame come from the candle and
rise up toward the ceiling, where it dis
appeared. Then another came, and they
kept coming, but / thought I must be
very fatigued and worn out, and that
they were the result of my imagination.
Then some animal seemed to rush across
the fireplace. but when l looked all
saw was q pile of red embers and the cor
ners of the room filled with dark, impen-
etrable shadows. 1 listened, but as no
sound struck my ear 1 thought had
better give myself rest and turned my
face to the wall and went to sleep in an
instant.
81 may have slept several hours, and
it may have been only few minutes,
but 1 suddenly came to my senses and
found the room filled with O peculiar
red glare that seemed to come from ev-
erywhere at once. Then heard strange
sounds, as if there were people in the
rooms. But 1 couldn't see any, and
might as we'll say that I began to feel
very queer and reached for my revolvers,
but found that had left them in my
saddle. But had my knife, which I
took hold Of and kept ready for any
emergency.
''The silence was unbroken for long
time, and then heard one of the most
unearthly yells that ever struck my ears.
1t seemed just outside of my door, SO I
got up and peeped out. But all was
quiet, and the fountain was splashing in
the moonlight, and the water in the basin
was sparkling cheerfully. It did not
seem as if there was anything wrong,
but / determined to ask the landlord
about it and went across the court to
find him. 1t was very cold, and as I
called to him my teeth chartered dread
fully. No answer came to my call, so I
went back to my room and put on more
clothes.
''Then walked all over the house. but
as did not know where the landlords
room was of course 1 couldn't find him.
81 had reached the front hall where 1
entered the building and was debating
what to do when that unearthly howl
reached my ears again. This time it was
just in front of the door, and opened it
as quick as 1 could SO as to see what was
there.
but it was the same as before. 1
looked over the desert for miles OH one
side, and ON the other the view was
broken by the mountains, which came
to within short distance of the house.
Seeing nothing, 1 stepped outside, my
knife i'll my hand, and looked around
"Before could realize what was 60
ing to happen saw two enormous pan
theirs come from somewhere. They were
standing on their hind legs and growl-
ing ferociously.
GA moment later / was paralyzed
with fear and then turned to the door
SO as to get inside and escape the mon
sters. But horrori The door had blown
shut and the latch had caught ON the in
side, so there was no way to open it..
There may have been some string or
other arrangement, but l did not know
where to find it, so was at the mercy of
the animals.
'There was nothing to do but fight, SO
took a firmer grip on my knife and
waited for the attack, but felt that it was
certain death to me- The beasts were
the largest ever saw, and they were
beside me in an instant. The largest
one made jump for me- and dealt it
blow over the heart that thought set
tied it, for it rolled over on the ground
and laid still. The other was frightened
for few minutes and hesitated about
attacking me, but now had hope, with
only one to fight.
Chow l finished the animal is more
than I can tell, rs my memory is very
dull on that point. But he made rush
at me which had to dodge, and made
an attempt to get behind him. had al
most succeeded and could have done my
work right there, but my foot slipped,
and fell down, and before l could get
to my feet the panther jumped ON me.
But in some strange way he jumped for
my feet, and l got hold of his tail and
commenced gashing his hind legs with
my knife.
"For several minutes the air seemed
in whirl, and l was all mixed up with
my antagonist, but unable to get in a
telling cut. We fought and rolled over
on the ground until was covered with
wounds, but at last saw my chance
and plunged my knife in the animals
stomach and gave downward rip. 1t
did the work enough to let me get up
md find tho op;,o,l,C toor+ ,,.;tl, IT.