Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
A EEAREUL NIGHT.

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that he had just brought from the
stream below. He was much excited.
a woman came out of the tent, and
the little fellow said TO her:
Mother. there are panther tracks on
the trail 10 the,r1yer.'
Sure" said the woman, paling.
Sure
Two little girls came out with fright
ened faces. They had heard the news
and, young as they were. understood
it, The Maxcy family were pioneers
who had come to the country To settle.
but had not yet built their cabin. The
father had gone to the nearest county
seat 10 enter the land and would not
be back till the following day. The
mother and son consulted what they
should do. The panther would likely
be back again, and there was no GER
tain defense. True. little Tom MaXcy
had his rifle and for a boy was a fair
shot. but supposing the panther should
come upon them suddenly or tat Tom
should miss him? In that case the
family would be ut the brute's mercy.
The little girls watched their mothers
face and, seeing the anxiety depicted
there. chung 10 her skirts.
Since there were no ncighbors TO
help, there was nothing to do but make
the only preparation possible that is.
gather wood for the purpose of build
ing a fire. Tom got his rifle I'm good
shape. but it was of small size, and
his mother feared to have him use it
lest its tiny ball would only enrage the
panther. Tom worked all the morning
gathering wood and spent the after
noon seeing that the pens containing
the cattle We're secure.
The sun went down, and darkness
stole over the land. An awful dread
came upon the family as night drew
on. Would the panther find another
meal and let them alone? They hoped
for the best. Tom lighted the fire,
which he had laid directly before the
tent, and he had driven forkpd
branch into the ground on which to
rest his rifle. The little girls were put
to bed, and Tom and his mother kept
watch.
=
sional swapping of the fire or the cry
OF a distant loon. Hour after hour the
mother and son sat waiting for the
night to pass. ana soon after midnight
the boy fell asleep. He was awakened
by a thud upon the earth n short dis
lance away, as of some heavy animal
jumping from tree. Opening his eyes.
he saw terror in his mothers face She
caught his wrist and held IT as in the
grip of a wise.
Look she cried.
Tom, on following the direction OF her
eyes. saw two glaring balls out in the
darkness. Tearing himself away from
her, he kicked the burning logs, sending
up sparks and flame that illumined the
dark figure. He hoped that this would
drive it away. but he was disappointed
The panther was doubtless hungry and
lOath to give up his prey. Tom went to
his rife
Mother" he said, throw firebrand
Mt him
But Mrs. Maxcy was not equal to
such an act, and Tom. resting the butt
of his rife on the ground, seized
brand and, first waving it over his
head, threw it straight at the beast,
who shrank away for n time. but it
was not long before Tom saw those
two glaring eyes again fixed upon him.
Again he tried the eXpedient of tossing
n brand, but this time the panther paid
but little attention to it.
The realization of the horror threat
ening them was what paralyzed the
mother. One of the blessings of youth
is the absence of such realization.
which accounts for the absence of fear,
and Tom Maxcy was at an age when
one doesn't picture dreadful things to
come. His faculties were all bent on
his work, which was to drive the pan
Their off or kill him. But the beast de
clined 10 be driven off. Indeed, Tom
noticed a certain undulatory movement
Df his body. which was stretched fiat
on the ground. that indicated he was
crawling gradually nearer for a spring.
Tom seized Il last brand-a big one
and threw 1t with so true an aim that
had not the panther lodged II would
have struck him, then the boy without
waiting to see the result sprang for
his rife. Mrs. MaXCy rushed frantic
Ally into the tent and Rugged her little
girls TO her. Their cries seemed TO
vhet the panther's appetite. and Tom
saw him rising on his fore paws ready |
'or a spring. The boys eye was look |
ng down the barrel of his rifle. bring
ng the two sights in line with the |
enter Of the brute's eye. The distance |
vas not great. not more than n dozen |
Yards. He had rest, and his young |
leart was beating scarcely more rapid |
Y than usual. He was sure if he fired |
'efore the panther sprang he could |
lit his head and believed he could hit |
he eye he aimed for. At moment |
when the beast was perfectly still and |
he bead at the muzzle of the rifle in /
inc with the breeCh sight and the /
'anther's eye Tom pulled the trigger
The animal gave a spring into the air
nd fell back mOtionIess.
Tom waited TO see if he would stir.
ut as he did not he called to his
mother that he had killed the monster,