The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-12-28
THE YOUNG AMERICAN.
Nd AND HIS PANTHER.

Tad had calculated the note might
not be delivered until after dark; and
he crept along the slaty shelves until
he found O little recess where tue
loose earth had been worn away by
the wind and the rain, and he climbed
down there and backed in. About sly
feet below was broad ledge which
reached far around to the right. By
living fiat his face just came to the
edge of his narrow shelf, while his
feet we're pressed to the farthesi
spaces in his little refuge. BE pulled
his rife within easy reaching dis
tance, and then looked out ald dared
the panther to come.
Straight before him, down the val.
lev, was the fort. He watched the
twinklihg lights go out in the mess.
hall, aud knew the belated teamsters
had arrived in camp. And his faith
was so firm in Sergeant Gore that he
never doubted the soldier was coming.
Presently he heard the dull beat ol
hoofs on the long road. But it was
from unshod feet, and not cavalry
horse. That chilled his courage q
little. And just as he tried to con
vince himself that he was wrong, and
searched for hope t,,at an army horse
and not pony was galloping toward
him, a shrek not fifty feet away rent
the wonderful silence of the hills.
His little body was positively
lifted and shaken with the shock of
it. And then, because he was cap
tain's son, Ted hammered his bare
knuckles against the stone, and forced
his courage to come back.
He peered over the edge of his
shelf at the broad ledge below; he
looked straight down there hundred
feet to the foot of the bluff; and he
could not tell for the life of him from
what direction that thrilling cry had
come.
Then pebble was loosed, and fell
down the bluff, around somewhere to
the right of Tad's refuge and he
called: "Sergeantw
He heard something rub gently
against the rocks on the ledge below,
and then another pebble bounded
away; but no strong word of cheer
came in answer.
In another moment, though his
wide eyes had been watching all the
time, the panther lay below him. She
kept we'll to the farther edge. She
saw him, and seemed gathering for a
spring. 1t was seconds before he
thought of the rifle. Then he fred,
and she leaped.
He felt her claws strike at him.
and catch again aud again. But he
withdrew far into the little nook, aud
there was no foothold for her.
She toppled back, and he could
hear her breathing plainly. Then
she tried again. AS she stood on her
hind feet, her claws caught in his
clothing, but he fought free; and
time and again she scratched him,
but he did not cry out.
Once or twice she withdrew hei
paw, stretched very high, and pushed
her black muzzle up till he could see
the two red eyes; and he knew the
two red eyes could very well see him
But when she struck she must with
draw her head to give the paw &
greater reach, and by shifting little
he could dodge her.
But all tho time, as she tiied fol
him, first with one fore-paw and ther
with the other, her hind feet were
clawing at the bluff for foothold. L
she had found it, she would have lifted
and have reached him instantly. She
did not find 1t; but she was looseninl
soil and stones with every effort, ant
these were forming growing plat
form which brought her nearer.
When he knew the next fling CT {
paw would reach him he saw the bare
blond head of Sergeant Gore on tn,
ledge.
The back of her head was toward
the soldier, for her left paw was at the
bosom of Tad's blue coat.
"Cling tightl" said Gore.
And wonderful thing happened
The sergeant stepped close to the
panther's side, facing outward. Hi,
left arm flashed about the extended
body. He made that splendid full
crum OF his hip. He swung just once
and swiftly; and the panther went
as Higgins had once gone-heels over
head, and helpless. She flung botl
paws wildly, but she made no sound
as her dark body shot over the edg,
and was swallowed up in the dark
ness. They listened what seemed
very long time, and heard her strik,
at the foot OF the bluff.
Great throw!" cried Tad, and h,
crept exultant from his nook, an(
clambered out where Sergeant Gore
could lift him down. But he had t,
be carried. When it was all over hi
sturdy legs refused to bear him, ant
he staggered very helplessly. Cor
laid him on the pine needles at tn,
summit, for few minutes. And pres
emily they went down the long roat
to the warm spring, where he WASHED
the dust from Tad's face and hand
and arms.
Later, they dragged to the captain
porch monster panther, whose vel
vet skin not single bullet had marred
But even at that, when Tad saw hi
fathers white face, and caught tn
wordless welcome OF his mothers EN-
brace, he knew he had paid for tn
panther far more than it was worth =
st. Nicholas.
America in Africa.