The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-02-21

! Hough and the scene - laid IN the
Santa Incz Mountains:
At this moment the full moonlight
fell upon the tree-top and bathed It
| in a mellow radiance which at once
/ revealed the outline oi the panther s
/ powerful form crouchiDg close along
! the tree-trunk; and even III up the
! tawny yellow OF his skin. Instantly
! the great beast showed his dislike Oh
/ the exposure by creeping farther on
| among the branches, heraiding the
move byArS halfsUppressed angry
snarl.
Vernon was glad Of the moments
respite in which 20 think. He argued
that the lion would not venture a leap
direct to the ground-a straight fail
Of twenty feet, but would first descend
he tree-trunk part way, and then make
his spring lie had already taken his
stand near the lower end Of the slant
ing tree. and now he saw that the
lion would bee forced 10 advance
straight toward him, which Of course
he would do slowly, and thus give him
his opportunity.
"If he only waits till the moonlight
comes" thought Vernon, anxlOusiy
For he knew that until the moonlight
touched the sights OF his rifle there
could be 10 certainty in his aim; and
TO fire the shotgun at that distance
would he hazardous in tAc extreme,
while 10 advance into the moonlight
would be equally SO, Tor he could then
be covered at one spring from the
panther's hiding place.
"Only wait. only wait, old fellow
Vernon repeated 80 himself, with in
ment drew nearer.
But the panther was already creep
ing forward along the tree-trunk. As
he emerged from the partial shelter
ne stopped, stood up 20 his full height,
barred his teeth, and snarled savage
snarl of defiance Vernon hadn't real
ized before how big and terrible he
would look For moment he almost
wished they were back in the cabin.
Morton CRASHED him by the jacket at
the back; ana Duke growled a fierce,
long. gutteral growl, while every briS
tie along his back stood erect.
The panther surveyed the scene with
n calmness and dclbcration calculated
to unnervc any but the stCadiest hand.
He seemed to he weighing the rcla-
tive costs of retrcating and OF ad-
yancng. Vernon was suddenly seized
by a strong temptation to fire. But
he knew that 10 miss the right spot
by so much as an inch might be
fatal-hc dared not move and the line
OF the moonlight on the ground before
him was still three feet away. 1t was
Il trying moment
Then the panther began 10 advance.
lie ciouchcd, and crcpt slowly forward
step hy step. snarlng and laying back
his ears in an ugly manner, while he
kept his wicked. cleaning eyes fixed
steadily upon the trio.
Vernon felt his flesh begin to creep
anG his hair 10 stiffcu, and his heart
suddenly jumped ana began pounding
against the wall OF his chest. "Fic"
ne said 20 himself, clculhing his teeth
and fists.
1t was over in an instant Vcrnon
was really a boy OF splendid courage.
and his Thoughts were again fixed on
the business before him-aud none
too soon.
The panther had stopped. lie
Croucncd lower The t,p ot his long
tail began TO lash from side to side
his head was low and pushed far
forward; his thin lirs twitchcd ucr-
vously, aud his ugly claws dug into the
bark. Vernon did not need to he told
that the lion meant TO spring. and that
To delay an instant would bc fatal
The rifle rose to his shoulder All the
moonlight fell full upon the sights
\ rising roar was met 10y clear sharp
report, which rang back from the
clin and echoed again Us a tawny body
whirled through the air ana fell in a
shapelcsS, quiyering mass on the
ground below.
"llurray" shouted Morton, as the
pcnt-up nervousness escaped in a wild
ycll Of delight
Ii was the proudest moment Of Yer
mons life rs he looked down at the
great beasts outstretChCd form.
The standing up to il was the
worst said Vernon, as he thought OF
how hc had TO pull himself together
when the panther began To creep to-
ward him along the trCe-trunk. utter
Ing that ugly. kissing suarl.
He stopped down and lifted the huge.
block-shapcd head, ana saw that the
bullet had passed through the brain
and out OH the back OF the neck
Must have smashed his neck. too. "
he said. thoughtfully. Then his eyes
swept ov.r the handsome length OF the
skin. and he exclaimed: by George.
but thatll make trophy. / say. Mort.
Wen have il dressed and keep il. old
Mason II 90 il for us And As the idt a
| caught their imaginationS. they danced
and Circltd about their prize Ia the
moonlight like young savagcs. and the
walls of the canon rang again and
again with their glee.
lion Hunting by Lad,.
IN rearSous Weekly Mrs. Hinde tells
how. during year spent in Africa.
she greatly longed 20 see Wild lion.
and how NJ last shortly before her