The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-07
SHE SAVED HER COLT.
A PLucky MARES DEADLY BATTLE
WITH A PANTHER.

=
rhs Cunnins. Darins and LightAins-
like Attacks Of the Tiger Cat Were
No Match Fer the Iron shod Heels
Of the Brave Horse.
In the little Ar0Ostook camp where I
worked the winter was IS years old there
arrived nm unusual kind of visitor. It
was nothing less than flne COLT The
mother Of this unlocked for visitor was
bay marc called vixen. She had hne in.
telltgsnos and great working qualities,
master, who Thought tho world Of her.
just now she was In worse temper than
usual, for she thought her foal ought to
be In more civilized quarters than those
Of the camp stables.
The mare and her baby, however wsre
cared for with solicitude that should
nave softened her heart 1t was spring
weather, warm in the sun at midday, and
besides the roomy corner Of the stable
which had been fitted up for my lady's
accommodation the men had built her b
wide pen In the yard, lon the south hide of
the stable wail, where she could sun hes
offspring ut oil convenient seasons.
One day, IN the early afternoon, when
the men had gone far Oh TO their chop
ping. the cook and found ourselves alone
In camp. A week or go before this had
had the misfortune to sink my az deep
into my left foot. The cut was bad one,
and sincs the accident had not been able
20 walk step.
was sitting on log where the cook
had placed me when some slight sound
attracted my attention. CHANGING toward
the noise, my eye osught glimpse Of
lank, tawny creature stealthily oreeping
between the trees on the outer edge Of the
clearing. His belly dragged the snow, 10
low did he crouch. He had not seen me,
and he took the utmost palm to escape
observation. He was eyins Vixen and
her foal over the low fence of their pen
and was deciding on the tactics best oAl.
oulhted to give him colt for supper.
He orept slowly round the clearing un-
observed, ~ he thought, till he had the
stable between himself and the pen; then
he left his cover. But he had underrated
Vixen's keenness. Her eye had been upon
him from the first, and, the moment he
disappeared from her view she set up an
excited whinny, which was intended to
summon help from this camp.
The cook heard her call. Without walt
ing for more than glimpse Of the panther
the cook started on the run for the chop
ping where the men were at work.
knew he had gone for his gun. the only
one In camp, which Jean Batiste had
taken with him after dinner.
Seeing no help come from the camp,
Ufvon FOR hnS oolk xo Tho SniAdIo ~ Tho
pen and stood with 1t right under her
nose, while she kept oeaseless watch on
all sides. Tho colt seemed to realize from
ita mothers alarm that there was danger
astir and huddled itself apprehensively to-
gether.
Presently round the corner Of the stable
orcpt the panther, tawny shadow, fat
on the snow. The moment he saw through
the openings of the fence that the eye Of
the mare was upon him he bounded to
the top Of the fence and made one bold
spring for his prey, but the mare was no
less lightning swift than himself. At the
first glimpse OF him she had whirled 80
that her heels were toward the enemy and
had waited in orouohing attitude that
one might have taken to indicate the ex-
IRENE Of terror. As the panther sprang
her iron heels met him with thud that
forced out Of him an involuntary snarliny
gasp, and lie fell against the pen fence
In an instant he flashed over the fence and
lay down in the snow to recover his
breath.
Instead Of making another direct attack
the panther next rose to the fence, and
thence eprang to the roof Of the stable,
where he crouched down and snarled
1iercely.
The colt was still the object Of his
hearts DESIRE The moment he mounted
to the roof Vixen had withdrawn to the
farther edge Of the pom, and now she stood
hunohed together with her head turned
backward, 60 as to let no movement Of her
foe escape her eye.
From his superior height the panther
fanoied that he could escape her heels and
reach the mares back. As he sprang from
his vantage ground the impetus Of his at
tack was tremendous and almost irresisti-
bic. Vixen almost stood on her head, and
her heels met him fair In the stomach, SO
that he shrieked under the blow, but the
mere momentum Of his leap overcame the
resistance Of Vixen's boots to the extent
that he reached her back and bore the
brave mare to the ground with his de.
gcending force She nimbly recovered her.
self, however, and shook him off, and by
this time the cook came running toward
the pen with his gun cooked, expecting to
SEQ tho panther at her throat. But no;
there was little fight left in him. He
looked very sick as be tried to crawl out
of the pen, and the cook was on the point
of finishing him with a charge Of buck
shot, but Vixen interviewed.
Leaving her colt, she darted forward and
tore his neck flercely with her powerful
teeth. The beast rolled over on his back,
screaming madly, and as Vixen trampled
him down with her front hoofs he doubled
and sank his claws into her neck and
shoulders.
There for . moment he snaried and
clawed, while the brave mares neck
streAmed with blood, and the cook sought
o chance for shot. But Vixen's plung-
ings gave him no opportunity. 1t was
plain to the cook that the mare would kill
her adversary In minute or two more,
but he dreaded lest meanwhile she should
be seriously injured.
With some misgiving as to the reception
he might have from Vixen himself,
though he was going to her assistance, he
dropped his gun, drew his long knife and
jumped into the pen. As ON opportunity
showed itself he drove the knife with all
his force straight through the beasts
dividing the spine, and the
lank carcass Strengthened out on the snow.
The brave mare stood over her fallen ad- |
versary and whinn!sd triumphantly, and
she made IL plain to the cook that she an |