Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-05-18
THE PANTHER SCARED HIM.
How Mikes Nap Came Near Ending
Fatally.


since l met with the adventure 1 now
record. | was travelling in the south
ern part of New Mexico, on a survey.
ing expedition. my companions being a
local guide and trusty Irish man
servant. Mike Joyce. | call Mike
'trusty''-and so he certainly was in
the ordinary way-but it was his
breach Of trust on this particular oc-
casion that afforded the exciting adj
venture | am now going to relate
We had pitched our camp for the
night or the edge of a knoll or grassy
aroya, and it was Mikes turn to take
/ watch. The labors of the day had been
i somewhat arduous: and, after wrap
+ ping myself up in my blanket was
soon fast asleep. The guide. too.
stretched himself out at the same time
I as myself. and. for aught | know to
+ the contrary. slumbered also As for
Mike the last ! remember seeing of
him was the red glow of his pipe and
the shining barrel of his rifle aslant his
knees
l had been asleep for some two
hours. perhaps when | was disturbed
Z
/ bray-coming from the direction in
/ which our packmules We're picketed.
/ On starting UP and looking round,
/ perceived Mike sitting a few yards
away, just raising his head from be-
tween his knees, and rubbing his eyes
| vigorously
| "Begorra. there l am agin." he was
saying to himself, "a mostbf to sleep.
l seem as if | can't keep myself
awake. Hallor' he suddenly ejaculat-
ed, snatching his rifle from his knees:
who be YOU YOU skulkin' old Cog
glery'
was now thoroughly aroused, and
Immediately sat bolt upright
glanced down the slope in the di-
rection in which Mike was looking ana
saw two yellow eyes. like balls of fire,
glaring straight upon me; and the next
moment | perceived that they be-
longed to Il savage beast which was
flashing itself into rage ere making its
spring!
a black painter said the guide.
from just behind me. He was not
asleep then,
The crack of two rifles sounded sim.
ultaneously-Mik and the guides:
| but the next instant | felt myself
crushed backwards to the ground, and
the panthers fangs at my throat.
The horror of my situation it is i'm.
possible TO describe. Iii wild desper-
alton | let 90 my rifle and made an
effort to draw revolver from my belt;
but the weight of the brute's body ut
terly prevented me from doing so. All
this must have taken place in a mo,
ment. although. to me, it seemed as if
minute after minute was passing.
How can I express my relief when
| heard the guide cry TO me:
All right sir, you needn't he
afeared l guess that painter is Just
as dead as a doornail though he do
stick to your throat See you here,
sir" And the guide. with the butt
end Of his gun. coolly lunged at the
beast. and rolled him off my body into
the grama grass beneath
What the guide said was indeed
true; for on my sitting up and passing
my hand bewlderingly over my
throat. | found that saving few
scratches | was quite unhurt; al
though IN everything but fact. I had
passed through all the horror of being
/ torn and mangled by the brute's fangs
and claws.
Both shots had pierced the panthers
skull, although only one had touched
the brain; and the panther's spring
was simply the last supreme effort be-
tween life and death.
Ere l prepared to take my blanket
and lie down again. the guide directed
my attention to pool of water some
distance away. whose surface was
showing bright in the moonlight.
do you see anything?' he asked
briefly.
Yes, answered. Il see some dark
objects moving about the margin
| "Ay," he said, they're wolves. that's
what they are. This is the time O.
night when them critters come to slake
their thirst"
They are not likely to interfere
i with Us. are theyf" | inquired.
No" he replied. for they've got
plenty of fresh meat in the shape of
antelope, an the towards run no
+ risks. Hows'ever, I shall sleep with
one eye open. though you needn't tell
your man 50.
i Mike, rs a matter OF fact, required
no admcuition: | could now see that
every hair of him" was awake The
nights incident taught him Il sharp les
son; and l may add that he was never
guilty of being caught nappioS Al his
+ post again