Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-07-22
rang out of the stiffness of the wood,

y
away, stood Basil!
It was but for moment that she 40
yielded to her conflicting emotions.
Conquering her feelings, she rushed
forward and clasped the child to her
breast. As the now overjoyed mother
did so, to her horror, looking up into
the tangled foliage, she perceived a
huge pant&er, stretched, crouching,
upon an extended Dough, apparently
ready to spring. Probably the brute
had only then observed Basil, for now,
upon his mothers approach, it hesitat-
ed to attack, lashing it's tawny sides
| with its tail, as if to work itself into a
state of greater fury.
What was to be done? A weak wom-
an was powerless against the strongest
and fiercest denizen Of the New Eng
land woods
Scarcely knowing what she did, the
poor mother seized her child and turned
to fly. AS she did so, the panther made
its spring.
Owing to the height and the distance,
it sprang short, barely touching the
rock upon which the two were stand
ing, and fell backward.
The respite was but brief. Recover
ing itself, the savage beast returned to
| the attack
Mrs. Flanders clasped Basil closer to
her side, being resolved, in her despera-
ton, that the destroyer should only
reach his life through herself.
| She could not escape by flight, and
had no means of defense. She could
only wait and pray.
Once more the assailant made it's at
tack, this time with greater measure
of success. It struck the edge of the
rock, and managed to cling to it. Strug-
| Cling desperately to recover itself, it
stretched forward until it's jaws seemed
but short yard from it's intended vic
| tim.
AT this moment overweight nature
gave way under the strain, and she
swooned. AS for Basil, he had hidden
his face in his mothers gown.
Meanwhile, Reginald Flanders sold
his corn, and expended the proceeds in
flour, sugar, small, priced packet Of
tea for his wife, powder and lead, and
| other simple necessaries.
| Having transacted his business, he
set out on the journey homeward. The
sun rose high in the heavens, and, an
| ticipating no evil, he suffered the slow
paced plowIhorse to subside into .
walk.
There was joy in the calm peaceful
ness of the surrounding wilderness.
The birds were merry, the sea CLEANED
| behind him like glass, the hills rose on
either side. He was surrounded by the
pure beauties of nature, and the sweet
ness of contentment filled his soul. He
seemed to dream, and left the horse to
wander as it liked.
How it occurred Reginald Flanders
could never tell. To his surprise, arous-
| ing himself from pleasing reverie, he
| found that Dobbin must have taken the
wrong course, for they were on the up
| per instead of the lower side of the
"West Rock
This mattered little, excepting that
| it made the journey somewhat longer;
| for which he was sorry, as he knew his
wife would be looking out for his COM
| ing; only now he must cross the stream
high up in the woods. So, pressing the
faithful old horse into an apology for
| trot, he pursued his way.
AT length he came to the precipitous
bank of the brook, down which with
sdene difficulty he guided his horse.
Pursuing a downward course in the di-
rection of his home, he was suddenly
startled by a shrill, weird cry.
1t sounded as if it were the voice of
his wife, and yet it was strangely I'M
like. What was it? What could it por-
tend?
There it rang again. Some one must
be in dire peril.
| There was no time for delay. The
mystery must be solved at once. For
| ward!
n The old horse numbered heavily on,
over rocks and projecting tree-stumps,
but it's best efforts failed to keep pace
| with it's masters ever-increasing anx-
| iety.
The cries had ceased. All was once
! more as silent as nature, on an early
autumnal Gay. can be. With the re-
curing silence The mans fears became
intensified.
AS he came within sight of the rock,
he was surprised to perceive an enor-
nous panther, making strenuous en-
deavors to climb its slippery sides.
With the instinct of the hunter and
the GOODNESS of the practiced soldier,
Reginald Flanders grasped his rifle,
| shook the printing in his hacd, placed
| fresh flint in the lock, and took long
and deliberate aim. Had he known the
real state of affairs, it mgiht have I'M
nerved his arm, but the knowledge was
happily spared him.
And now the savage animal made its
| foothold good. With snarling cry it
crouched, leaped and-rolled back, life
less. into the stream, with the settlers
| bullet through its brain!
Curious to find out what had been the
panther's object, yet not for single
moment guessing the truth, the marks
man set himself to climb the rock.
Who shall describe the mingled hor-
II