Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-07-20

slowly enter the bridge. AT the un-
canny sight I felt as if stream of ice
cold water were running down my
back; my hands involuntarily clutched
my knees, and there was a strange,
prickling sensation all over my body.
1t was positively relief when /
heard scratching sound on the floor
of the bridge, and knew then, at all
events, there was nothing ghostly
about my mysterious visitor. Evident
ly, it was some wild creature of the
woods seeking shelter and safety, like
myself, In the bridge, I could hear it
tustling cautiously about, and occa-
sionally uttering slight wheeling or
coughing sound, as if te free its throat
and nostrils from water:
By and by the animal, whatever it
was, began to sniff suspiciously, and l
knew that its quick sense of smell had
detected my presence. Then, for the
first time, I experienced feeling of
genuine alarm. I could see the eyes
Of the beast glaring through the dark
ness; and the size of the phosphor-
escent eye-balls, and the distance be-
tween them, showed that the animal
was one of considerable size. was
unarmed, save for light 22-caliber
revolver that would prove about as
effective against a boar, wolf or cata-
mount as boys popgun. Suppose
the beast should be hungry enough to
crave even meal of soaked and
gristly bicycler? Shut up in that cage
of d bridge, what could I do to balk
him Of his purpose, should he decide
td eas me?
While IsiYas debating one side OF
| this Question, and my unseen visitor
was, doubtless debating the s9theri
side, something occurred rrhat was cais
culatef to divert the thoughts of each
from the other, for the time being.
Without the slightest preliminary jar
or lurch, one end of the bridge hoated
off its pier and swung down stream.
Then followed grinding noise, as the
other end was dragged from its bed of
masonry, and with a rolling and toss
ing motion our unwieldly craft got un-
der way down stream!
had sprung to my feet, as 1 felt
the water rushing up through the
cracks in the floor. There was an in
sane idea in my mind that I must
make rush for the free end of the
bridge and leap into the water, to
save myself from going to the bottom
with my leaky craft. Then I reflected
that, from the time of Noah's ark un-
til the present, all wooden structures
tossed upon hoods-no matter how
leaky-have invariably hoated until
they found some resting place on dry
land again. Undoubtedly, L was
safer, aud would be more comfortable
where / was than anywhere else in
that flooded wilderness-proyided my
fellow passenger would keep his dis
tance. So [ sat down again, unmind-
fulof the cold water swirling about
my feet, and listened.
I could hear nothing of the un-
known animal whose company l 80
much desired to part with. But,
presently, I located his blazing eyes
half way up the side of the bridge,
and perceived that the beast, when
the water rushed into the bridge, had
leaped on one of the slanting beams,
and was now crouching there, in more
unreasoning terror, doubtless. than
mine. T thanked fortune then for
the floating off of the bridge and the
thrush Of water, which would, proba-
bly,, act as an effectual barrier be-
tween what I now realized must be a
ca.amount or wildcat and myself.
Shiveringly, I waited for the dawn.
The bridge hoated smoothly enough,
save when. it whirled in the current
and struck some tree on the river
bank. Then it would tremble all
through its tilnbers, but soon swing
free and start upon its course again.
The floor was about two feet under
water all the time, and [ soon con-
cluded to follow the example of my
brute companion and climb up on one
of the beams. Here I ensconced
myself as best I could, and spent
miserable two hours, until the first
gray light of morning began to steal
into my prison.
AS objects gradually became more
distinct made out at last the tawny
body of panther, stretched, head
downward, along beam opposite me.
The fierce, fixed eyes were still
turned toward me, and although the
body of the beast was perfectly still,
constant vibration and slight lash
ing of the tail hetokened its intense
alertness. Never once did it turn its
blazing eyes away from mine, but for
over an hour watched me as cat
watches some bird that it is intent to
catch.
Then there came sudden tremen-
dous shock to the bridge, and one end
of it shot up several feet in the air,
submerging the other end where the
panther was clinging, until the water
surged over tho head and shoulders OF
the startled beast. I saw it shrink
backward up the beam, but Its hind
quarters were blocked by the frame
work of the roof ere its head got above
water. Then it launched from the
beam with o mad plunge, and swan
heavily past me, till it reached the
Swallowing water at the other end OF
the bridge, and climbed, half drowned,
mn ;nto tho morning light
At that instant, when its head and
shoulders hung over the threshold Of
! u L,.5., /, r;ga ohot pnno ont clanr