The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-10-14

We fought our way against the
storm, after that, mostly in silence,
driving slowly and peering into the
darkness ahead, diply lighted by our
lantern. Once Mrs. Wilbur broke the
silence by saying, That dark bulk out
in the river is Brigham's island. The
first bridge is just below, and We shall
soon reach it," AS she mentioned
Brigham's island an involuntary shiver
ran up my back, for l remembered the
hoarse scream of the night before.
What an hour this would be to meet a
crouching panther in the road!
A few minutes later we reached the
bridge which was a covered structure.
The water was already piling up
against the framework, and now and
then we could hear timber creak I'M
der it's pressure. Shall we drive on"
l asked, land risk it?"
81 think we'd better" replied my
companion. "The bridge seems to rest
firmly yet on it's abutments and we
won't be long crossing
| urged the horse up the sharp pitch
of the roadbed to the entrance of the
bridge and the animal, after hating
and snorting for moment, with re-
luctance which | could not understand,
finally plunged with rush upon the
planks. At that moment there came
an ominous growl and snarl from the
darkness ahead The horse began to
rear, and l leaped over the wheel and
caught him by the bride.
Before l leaped l 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
heard it slowly grating off the stone
abutments All of sudden it lurched,
settled at one end, and then drifted off
with the swift current of the stream.
We were afioat with a panther in
covered bridge from which there was
now no way of escape!
If 1 lost my head for moment in
the bewilderment of peril, plucl1y 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 go" 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 a match?" asked the lit
tie woman at my side, with wonderful
GOODNESS. eff so, please light it, and
let us see what that creature is"
1 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 l had
that our fellow voyager in
the bridge was panther. Since 1 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
crcuching, 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 plucky wife, with self-pos-
session and shrewdness that put my
frustrated wits to shame. ''He will not
risk cold bath to harm us. 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 a light slowly
creeping across the flood! Could it be
possible that boat with lantern was
putting out from shore? l 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 fiat-bottomed boat, driven
by stout arms, was rowed up to the
end of the bridge. l grasped the bow
and held it while Mrs. Wilbur stepped
lightly in. Then / followed her and
pushed the boat off with all my might.
In 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, sturdy mountain farmer oval,
wal! l 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