Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-04-01


door the boy saw an animal about
the size of large dog, only longer
and more active, making an ATT 'ck
upon il halfgrown COW, which was
believing piteOusly as she eD.
dea\ ored to escape from the crea
ture.
Tue animal had evldentl, jlmp"d
npon the COW from behind anu was
tearing at the poor animals neck.
from which the blood was pOnrlng
IN a stream. For an Instant
JIaDmo was pnwerless to move.
for b. realized that hefOr+' him was
the unknown brute which had
been causing so much trouble
Among the settlers.
Sinwl his senses returned in
him ind ca ,tlhuslv he tOOk MS
fathers rifle, which hr knew TO be
loaded, from It's resting place on
the wall, aud then II owed back to
the doorway. Resting the hesv'
rh cross chair there, he slIen
y waited for the marauler 10
moIe To the rIgbl, 80 lbat brtttr
shot could br had.
After tearing at the unfortunate
COW un;il she sank lifeless to the
grnuud the panther-for panther
the animal proved to bH-ate ifs
fil of the uuiyering tirsh aud then
slowly turned toward the house.
As the great cat saw the bov.
kneeling IN the doorway and
trembling with excitement ana
tear, it gave a snarl and crOuched
low, movlng'its tail rapidly from
side to side. its eyes shining like
living Goals IN the dark.
With murmured prayer John.
ME took a q 1Ck aim and pulled
the trigger. The animal gave a
leap into the air toward the bOv,
uttered a savage scream of rage,
which echoed far and wide, aud
fell back dead, with a bullet in its
brain. 1t was some minutes before
Johnnie dared approach the fallen
creature and whAn he did he was
more than sstOnished TO find
around It's neck a broad leather
strap, which had evidently been
placed there by human hands,
While johnnie was wondering
what it all meant and how the
strap came there, Mr.. and MIS-.
Blackley drove up. The mother
was too frightened to speak, AS
she gazed at the de I'd panther and
thought of the danger in which
her boy had been placed. The
father, after making a Critical ex
animation OF the animal and the
collar around Its neck, at once set
out tor the home or his nearest
eighbOr.
On bis return he announced that
he mystery of the panther would
probably be cleared up on thu
morrow, as a party intended to
make d search for The lair of the
amin al aud 70 fnd it it it we're TO
Dc found L tile JOHNNIE plea led
to be allowed to accompany the
party, bat co Id not gam consent.
as his mother entered a firm and
emph ttlc protest.
In the early morning hound
we're secured and u small party o.
rne settlers took up the trail OF
tho panther. 1t led to the ledge
of rocks on the BruIe river, where
the animal had successfully hid
den so many times when pursued
by the huuteTs, This time the
! hounds kept the scent and it wal
{ found that the creature had been
in cave almost hidden from
1 sight, which could only be reached
5 by leaping over deep cut in th'
rocks.
A As the party entered the deDi
! which ran back into the rocks fol
a., some distance, the smell of smoke
greeted their nOstriIs. Almost
n too much astonished TO speak, tn
= men slowly advanced and at las
a came to the fre. Near 1t was
half-brecd Indian. fOndling tw'
Q smaIl panther cubs, evidently th'
!. young of the female which hat
q been killed the day before b.
a Sohnnie Blskeley.
a The Indian Jumped to his toe
"a as the men, with their rifles t
8 their shoulders, approached, an
n made q dash for the opening o
n the cave. Hs never reached /