The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-12

the neighborhood had ne~er occurred
to the lad The sounds came from the
left, and for a moment or two he
strained his eyes in that direction, ex-
pecting to see man and beast burst
into view from the bushes.
'"They amt going either way" he
muttered, as the shrill cutlery con-
tinued necessarily. TT sounds like
they were fighting and the man was
calling for help. 1 must try to save
the fellow, whoever he is. Won't
father be pleased if 1 shoot a pantheri
never had a chance at one before,
and I amt going to lose this one
With the clamor of the combatants
ringing in his ears, Sandy turned to
the left and crept through the low
thicket that covered the fiat ridge of
the mountain. He advanced cautious
/ ly, but rapidly, holding his cooked mus
ket ready for instant use.
He had gone no more than fifty
yards when the bushes ended at an
open glade. A tree was conveniently
near, and crouching behind this the
lad watched with bullying eyes and
fast beating heart the thrilling scene
before him.
On the farther edge of the glade.
half a dozen yards across, ledge of
rocks rose to a height of twenty feet.
At the base of the ledge was a mar
row, CACIN; anu ONIOiC
this squatted a huge, tawny animal
with a sweeping tail-the largest and
ugliest panther Sandy had ever seen.
The beast was yowling and screech-
ing ferociously and suddenly it made
spring at the cleft Then quickly
dusky face flashed into view and
tomahawk, made half dozen
quick, sharp stabs at the intruder.
With blood-curdling scream the baf-
fled panther sprang back. its face drip
ping with blood, and crouched for an
other attack. From the depths of the
rock fissure rang a loud "whoop! =
more of a. signal for aid than an ex-
preston of triumph.
Sandy's cheeks were CHASTITY pale as
he watched from behind the tree, and
there was a shivering fear at his heart
with which the panther had nothing to
do He had seen the swarthy face in
the cleft. and he knew what it meant.
This critter has got an Indian
cooped up in yonder," he whispered to
himself, land, Of course, there are
more of the redskins about. Mebbe by
this time they're down at our cabin,
a-butcherin' father and mother! What
shall I do?''
Well might the lad ask this question.
He had been brought to fear and de-
test Indians as he would rattlesnakes.
Now that the long threatened peril had
actually arrived. he felt his duty to
hurry off at once and spread the
alarm among the scattered settlers.
Moreover, he knew that if he should
STAY the panther-as he stood a fair
show of doing-he would in all li&eli-
hood find himself a prisoner, with a
good prospect of being put to death.
SO his first impulse was to leave the
indian to his fate, and get noiselessly
away from so dangerous a neighbour
hood. Before he could act upon it the
situation changed with startling celer-
ity. The panther made another dive
at the cleft, and this time, in spite Of
the tomahawk, it got one Of its fore
paws fast in the thick tuft of hair on
the redskins crown. AS the Indian
was drawn out of the cleft. kicking and
screaming, Sandy saw that he was a
mere lad of about his own age.
The snarling of the panther and the
cries of the victim moved the young
colonist to sudden pity. His prudent
resolve was forgotten, and, without a