The light., 1900-01-18
TAD AND HIS PANTHER.


Gore peered at the penciled lines;
DEAR SERGEANT: am up on the
bluff. If you don't como and get me,
may be the panther will. TAD.
A cayuse pony was picketed back
of the quartermaster's store, and
Sergeant Gore took q turn of the rope
around the animals jaw, leaped to the
bare back, and galloped to the hills.
He carried his carbine, and belt of
cartridges was buckled about him.
And every muscle of his splendid
frame quivered; for he loved the
Captains son.
Tad had calculated the note might
not be delivered until after dark; and
he crept along the slaty shelves until
he found a little recess where the
loose earth had been worn away by
the wind and the rain, and he climbed
down there and backed in. About six
feet below was a broad ledge which
reached far around to the right. By
lying fiat his face just came to the
edge of his narrow shelf. while his
feet were pressed to the farthest
spaces in his little refuge. He pulled
his rifle within easy reaching dis
tance, and then looked out and dared
the panther to come.
Straight before him, down the val
ley, was the fort. He watched the
twlnkling lights so out in the mess
hall, and 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 of
hoofs on the long road. But it was
from unshod feet, and not O cavalry
horse. That chilled his courage a
little. And just as he tried to con-
vince himself that he was wrong, and
searched for hope that 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 q pebble was loosed, and fell
down the bluff, around somewhere to
the right of Tad's refuge and he
called: Sergeant"
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. It was seconds before he
thought of the rife. Then he fired,
and she leaped.
He felt her claws strike at him,
and catch again and again. But he
withdrew far into the little nook, and
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 her
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 the time, as she tried for
him, first with one fore-paw and then
with the other, her hind feet were
clawing at the bluff for foothold. If
she had found it, she would have lifted
and have reached him instantly. She
did not find IT.; but she was loosenlng
soil and stones with every effort, and
these were forming q 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 the
ledge.
The back of her head was toward
the soldier, for her left paw was at the
bosom of Tad's blue coat.
"Cling tight!' said Gore.
And a wonderful thing happened.
The sergeant stepped close to the
panther's side, facing outward. His
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 both
paws wildly, but she made no sound
as her dark body shot over the edge
and was swallowed up in the dark
ness. They listened what seemed a
very long time, and heard her strike
at the foot of the bluff.
''Great throw!" cried Tad, and he
crept exultant from his nook, and
clambered out where Sergeant Gore
could lift him down. But he had to
be carried. When it was all over his
sturdy legs refused to bear him, and
he staggered very helplessly. Gore
laid him on the pine.needles at the
summit, for few r'in"tas. And pres