The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-05-17

llen MS Dreatn came back, and
with it his daring. And the next time
the cry was raised he knew the
shingly shelves of the bluff were then
promenade for the panther.
Next night Sergt. Gore was on
guard. but the next after he was free;
and time and again he wondered |
where Tad was in hiding, for he had
not seen the boy since dinner call
Lang and Warner were up the
gulch with an eight-mule team and
they came in at sundown with load
Of wood. When they had embarrassed
the mules Lang found Sergt. Gore
stretched on his bunk trying to read
by the afterglow.
"Oh, Gore. here's a note from the
captains kid" said the teamster,
Lang. carelessly.
Gore peered at the penciled lines:
you don't come and get me, maybe the
panther will. TAD.
A cayuse pony was picketed back of
the quartermaster's store, and Sergt.
Gore took 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 cap
tain's 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 broad ledge which
reached far around to the right. By
lying flat 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 distance
| and then looked out and dared the
| panther to come.
Straight before him down the val
lev was the fort. He watched the
| twinkling lights go out in the mess
hall. and knew the belated teamsters
had arrived in camp. And his faith
was so firm in Sergt. 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 cavalry
horse. That chilled his courage lit
tie. And just as he tried to convince
himself that he was wrong and
searched for hope that an army horse
and not pony was galloping toward
him, shrek not so 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 captains son,
Tad hammered his bare knuckles
against the stone and forced his cour-
age to come back.
He pecred 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 a pebble was loosened and fell
down the bluff, around somewhere to
the right of Ted's refuge, and he called
Sergeant"
He heard something rub gently
against the rocks on that 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 ali the time
the panther lay below him. She kep'
well to the farther edge. She saw
him, and seemed gathering for spring
It was seconds before he thought O
the rifle. Then he fired, and sh,
leaped.
i He felt her claws strike at him, ant
catch again and again. But he with
drew far into the little nook, and ther,
was no foothold for her.
Il He toppled back and he could heal
her breathing plainly. Then she triet
again. As she stood on her hind feet
! her claws caught in his clothing, bu
, he fought free; and time and agail
she scratched him, but he did not CT,
out.
II Once or twice she withdrew her paw
stretched very high, and pushed he
black muzzle up till he could see tn
two red eyes; and he knew the tw,
/ red eyes could very well see him. Blu
: when she struck she must Withdraw
i her head to give the paw create
| reach, and by shifting little he coul,
I dodge her.
> But all the time, rs she tried fo hin
first with one forepaw and then wit
!. ths other. her hind feet were clawin