The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-08-24
A TREMENDOUS JUMP.
The Long Leap Of - Panther From n GIN
to Attack - Horse.

10 ATTACK ~ ttorses
Fifty feet below us. as step out on
a mass Of rock and look down. is a bit
of valley with IA silver stream running
down it from "A spring under my feet.
and drinking from this stream are
seven wild horses Of the plains. They
are the real mustangs swift. hardy
and wary. and Indian and wolf have
pursued them in vain. An antelope
might run with them for couple of
miles. but not further. The Indians
have ponies more feet. but not with
such endurance.
''Let pursuit be attempted. and one
of the mustangs. wild and untamabl
and knowing no master. would strike
a gallop which would not lag or be
broken for fifty miles These seven
belong to the drove of nifty we saw two
days ago, and were probably separated
during the thunderstorm Of Yesterday.
As | watch them they turn away from
the stream. bite each other in play. and
one begins to feed toward me. The
grass il sweet and green, but he takes
bite here and there as he comes. as il
hunger were almost satisfied. and final
~ reaches a sapling growing almost at
the base of the cliff and begins to rub
against il.
Thirty feet bclo~ me is another jut-
ting mass Of rock. entirely bare except
for "A single stunted bush. II is twenty
feet above the horse and the same dis
lance away. have heard nothing from
the rocks and bushes below me-not
the snap of tsvig or the rustic of a
branch but suddenly an object attracts
the eve
Fairly beneath me a panther crecps
| out of its lair in the rocks and moves
forward. lie looks to the right and
left. hut not upward. Let me move
hand or foot and his ears would catch
| the sound. He has heard the horses
and crept out to investigate. lie
is fair shot for me. but the
idea of firing on him does no,
occur As he pulls himself slowly
forward to peer over the edge Of the
rock his fur shines like velvet and the
play Of all his muscles can he seen
His ears work rapidly and his tai
moves softly to and fro When hs
thrusts his nose over the edge and gets
sight II the horse below sort of shiveI
passes over him and for thirty second!
the tail is still. He is surprised but
he soon rallies.
Ills every action for the next I'VE
minutes bctrays his intentions. lii
measures the distance Of the leap 10 al
inch He half rises to feel il he cal
get a good footing to the rock. Ill
moves To the left to be entirely clea
OF the bush and when he sinks dowI
again see that he has gathered hi
feet under him for the spring Tn
tail moves like the pendulum Of
clock. and hear a gritting sound a
his sharp claws meet the surface Of tn
rock.
} The mustang stands quartering an
has backed up a little to rub his neck
Only his head is now on the far side q
, the tree. Never did sictim offer
: fairer target The pan.her's ears ar
: suddenly laid fiat 70 his head. h
: uttcrs low fierce snarl, an
! while am watching him with wide
oper eyes he disappears. lie shot q
the rock 50 swiftly that my eyes coul
, not follow him. did not see him ]
, the air. but ! saw him as he alighte
; on the horse. The force Of the sprin
. threw the poor animal down and role
[ him over. but he was up in a flash an
the panther on his back again. TIL
4. time the savage beast was farther fo
ward. and a. the horse reared up an
: plunged around ! saw the panther hi
ING al the base Of his neck and tcarin
: away at the shoulder and leg with h
!. hind claws.
d Now raised MY rife for shot. b.
e the six other mustangs came forwai
; with rush. For thirty seconds ever
animal seemed To- be- on its hind fc
a and walking in a. circle. and all we
n snorting or ncigling. Then ! NOTES
the panther on the ground and heal
z him whining and bowling like dog
: pain. He was rolled over and kick
J. this way and tint. but he someho
managed to get clear Of the hoofs al
= limped into fula view. ! had my ri
= ready and gave him a shot that tut
4 blcd him over and the sharp rcpo
q. sent the horses galloping out Of
z valley. The one who mad been
n sailed galloped of with the rest. a.
TO 10 figured that he could not have he
& veg seriously hurt.
by and By | found way down !
4. eli and Inspected my prize. He I'M
O. have died within few minutes ha'
N, not shot him. Two Of his legs W,
lc broken. one ear bitten off. half Els
ne gone, ar,l he had several broken 81
Tie had plainly seen the other f'or'
al before his spring. but he had prrbal
p counted on their running away -
=. troit Ercc Press.
N