Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-10-19

finally plunged with IRISH upon the
planks. At that moment there came
an ominous growl and snarl from the
darkness ahead. The horse began to
rear, and I leaped over the wheel and
caught him by the bride.
Before I leaped I had seen the glow
of two baleful, yellow eyes, like dull
candle flames, in the gloom ahead, and
the incident of the preceding day, the
scream from Brigham's island, was
again and still more wildly recalled.
Instantly the conviction took possess
sion of my mind that the creature con-
fronting us in the bridge was the pam
Their. The flood had driven him. from
his den on Brigham's island, and he
had followed the bank of the stream
until the cavernous opening of the
bridge offered him shelter from the
storm. There he had crouched, until
the sound Of our horses hoofs on the
planks had reused him to angry pro-
test
AS I struggled to hold the frightened
horse, felt, all at once, the bridge be-
ginning to lift on the flood, and then
l heard it slowly grating off the stone
abutments. All of a sudden it lurched,
settled at one end, and then drifted off
with the swift current of the stream.
We were afloat with a panther in a
covered bridge, from which there was
now no way of escape!
If l lost my head for a moment in
the bewilderment of peril, plucky little
Mrs. Wilbur did not. AS the horse be-
gan to back, still rearing and dragging
me with it, she too sprang lightly out
over the wheel and came to my assist
ance. But our combined efforts were
powerless to hold the terrified horse,
which continued to rear and back to-
ward the end of the bridge. well
have to let him co. painted my COM
panion. Don't keep hold till you're
dragged into the water!"
The horse, with a fierce shake and
backward plunge, broke from us, and
the next instant disappeared over the
end OF the bridge, dragged by the bug
gy AS our lantern on the dashboard
vanished we were left in total dark
ness.
''Have you match?" asked the lit
tie woman at my side, with wonderful
GOODNESS. IF so, please light it, and
let US see what that creature isl
l had, fortunately, pocket match
safe filled with parlor matches, which
give a strong, bright blaze l struck
one of these and we soon saw, as I had
~,
the bridge WAS panther. Since first
saw the CLEAN of his eyes, he had
sprung up to one of the transverse
beams, and had crawled nearer the CEN
ter of the bridge, where he was now
crcrching, out of reach of the water
which covered the floor planks to the
depth of foot or more.
1--WE shall be safe from him as long
as We stand in the water" said the
minister's pluclSy wife, with a self-pos-
session and shrewdness that put my
frustrated wits to shame. ''He will not
risk cold bath to harm u.s. We must
stand just where We are. By-and-by
the bridge may get aground"
We stood there in the chilling water
for what seemed like hours-it was
really only about 20 minutes. Then,
through the dark opening at the end
Of the bridge, we saw light slowly
creeping across the flood! Could it be
possible that boat with a lantern was
putting out from shore? shouted at
the top of my voice. In a moment we
heard an answering cry, and then the
light came more rapidly toward us.
Presently fat-bottomed boat, driven
by stout arms, was rowed Up to the
end of the bridge. I grasped the bow
and held it while Mrs. Wilbur stepped
lightly in. Then I followed her and
pushed the boat off with all my might.
In a few moments the drifting bridge
was an indistinct bulk in the darkness.
What! a panther on board the old
bridge, did you say?" cried the res
cuer, a sturdy mountain farmer. oval,
wal! was out lookin' for my chicken
coops, but guess I'll get my rifle and
try for bigger game"
He took us ashore and up to his little
house, where he left us to dry off and
get warm. Before midnight he re-
turned with the panther's hide!
Strangely enough, the minister's
horse managed to struggle ashore, and
was found next morning with he buggy
wedged between two small trees on
the river bank. The animal was
chilled and weak, but otherwise un-
harmed.
My trip to Bakersville had indeed
proved to be spiced with adventure,
but it is not that which makes it pleas
ant to recall, so much as the resulting
friendship of the Wilburs, which has
been one of the happiest friendships
of my life.-Orange Judd Farmer.