The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-02-21
v u EE WERE hunting for big
NM game among the Black
Wv Hills, and one day, when
thara xyara e;,,a ;,, Al -


there were signs in the
air of coming snowstorm, | left camp
on my own hook aud wandered away
for three or four miles. After an hour
or two, rs Istood resting beside tree,
deer broke cover in front of me and
only pistol shot away. 1t was fine
buck, aud he walked into the open as
cool aud unconcerned as il hunter had
never thirsted for his life. l ought to
have dropped him dead at that dis.
tance, but he fell Mt my fire, to get
up aud limp away, aud, believing him
to be wounded mortally, 1 followed
at my best pace. The ground was
rough and covered with young cedars,
and, being bit excited, paid little
heed to what was under foot.
OF n sudden found myself falling,
and, as l went down, dropped my
gun to clutch at the nearest branches.
went down ~ or 10 feet over the
edge Of ravine, struck on my feet.
and then plunged forward and brought
mp on ledge or shelf about four feet
wide by ten feet long. This shelf
overhung a depth so black and dismal
that L dared not wonder how far down
1t was to the tiny stream flowing over
the rocks at the bottom. The ravine
was about Is feet wide, and directly
opposite me, in mass of rocks, was
an opening which knew at first glance
to be the den of some wild animal.
did not take note of these things
Mt once, for in tho fall / had broken
two ribs and been badly bruised, and
was almost unconscious for quarter
OF an hour. When / rallied bit /
found wall 15 or 20 feet high behind
me, and as for the ravine in front, /
could not have crossed or descended
into 1t even had not been injured. |
had just taken in the situation when
the sky grew dark, the wind swept up
the ravine with Il long-drawn moan,
and snowflakes whirled thickly around
my head. could not tell at first how
badly was hurt, as most of my body
seemed to be asleep, and / naturally
hesitated to find out, remembering
that / was miles from camp and could
expect no help. L was lying quiet
and hoping the pain soon would be-
come easier, when / got such shock
rs nearly put my wits to sleep again.
Directly in front of me, across the
ravine, coming out of his den with
great dignity, appeared the largest
panther 1 ever had seen. He stood
snuffing the air and looking full at
me, and when realized how helpless
was things turned dark, and groaned
in despair. 1t was only fair leap for
the beast across the ravine, and ex-
pected him to make it at once and at.
tack me; but as the minutes passed
away and he still hesitated began to
wonder over his actions. He turned
to the left and trotted along over the
ground distance of about 20 feet.
Then he wheeled and passed the den
by about the same distance the other
way. When he had gone over this
beat two or three times j discovered
what was the matter. As he came
toward me / got clear view, and saw
that he was stone blind. There was
a white film over each eye, and he
could not have seen tree in his path.
A blind panther out for exercise
blind death trotting along in front OF
me, 30 helpless that he could not have
made his eyes keep him from starva-
tion. You have seen the panther con-
fined in cage, his limbs stiffened, his
teeth broken and his savage nature
toned down by long Imprisonment and
the sight of humanity until he scarce
ly snarls at the cane thrust to stir him
mp. This one, despite his misfortune,
was 1.-the, supple. vigilant--a combi-
nation of strength and fierceness pos
sessed only by the lion or the tiger
Disease or accident had blinded him,
but he possessed every other power
nature gives to the dreaded beast. In
stinct had taught to him the lay of
the ground. He may have pissed
over 1t a thousand times. His move
ments were as regular as the pendulum
OF clock. just 80 far down the
yAvine and return; just so far up the
xavine and return. In going down he
avoided a stunted cedar growing in a
crevice in the rocks; in going up he
avoided bush which was in the di-
rect path. Grace, ,lithenesss. strength,
ferocity. The lower jaw was down,
and had q fine view of the fangs
which could rend the hide of horse.
~ every move the terrible claws
clicked and grated -claws which would
aink to the boaeof sman's leg and
Sh'n strip the quisS'us aesh of in