The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-06-15

Aoo pi1eo oI Tue tfeeS III the morning
1t alleviated our thirst little, but wa.
not particularly filling. My neck wa!
bound up with our handkerchiefs, bu
the scratches, although not very deep
ached and throbbed and added to nv
misery.
what night that was! The cubs
were hungry, too, and their outcries
were answered by the old panther, who
stirred about restlessly near the den,
once in while emitting a scream,
which made our blood run cold. Some
times We thought another cry echoed
from far off on the mountain. but the
mate. If it were he, did not appear.
although we were so tired we did
not dare to go to sleep, and it was we'll
that our peril kept us on the alert, for
as the cubs grew noisier the panther
again and again sought to gain en-
trance, and it was only by discharsins
the musket through an aperture into
the darkness outside that we were
! able to keep her off.
"At last daylight came, and no pris-
oners ever looked out with more long.
ing for freedom than did we from be-
hind our rocks that morning. We were
utterly miserable in our musty quar-
tiers. faint with hunger and thirst. and
the continual vail of the cubs had be.
come uncomfortable.
"'Thad. why can't we throw them
out? whispered, eXcitedly. If she
would lug them off and purr over them
While perhaps we could skip out Of
this
"'We couldn't get the pesky things
out" Thad grumbled, disconsolately.
The old one would be right on top OF
us if we moved the stone
Our late experiences added point to
his objection, but as it was our only
chance of escape we decided to try it.
"Drawing off our coats we crept into
the corner by the light of matches, and
not without some scratches and a good
deal of fuss, secured the kittens and
wrapped them in the stout homespun
jackets. Then in trepidation we laid |
the gun ready. held the struggling
cub close to the crack, and when Thad |
moved the barrier bundled it out and
we swung the stone into place again.
The coat had no sooner touched the
ground than. with 4 spring from above
the panther was on it, rending and
shaking the garment with implacable
rage till out rolled the cub, and then
her perplexity was comical to witness.
She was soon convinced that she I'D
really regained her offspring, however,
and after smelling and licking it she
laid hold of the loose skin on the back
of its neck and moved proudly off with
the young one dangling from her
mouth.
"'Quickv whispered Thad. Throw
out the other one while we know where
she is
Il did trundle it out, heels over head.
and then we fastened up the hole Sc
,urely.
THE youngster expressed his resent
nent at this summary election in an
iii tell mother whine that brought
he old one bounding back. She
grabbed him up in haste and lugged
lin off, too, and then we waited.
For hours we sat there, doing moth
ng but fume and sputter at our predic-
ment. Then, as every thing was silent
the woods round about we decided ,
o reconnoiter for the enemy. Screw t
ng our courage up as we'll as we could t
ve cautiously put out our heads, ard =
S nothing happened we crept forth g
nd peered about among the rocks. :
mo panther was visible, and care .
ully removing our shoes we crawled =.
oWnward on our hands and knees, :.
eeping we'll out Of sight from above.
the smoother ridges we con- 8
uded to make dash for it, and down
e went, expecting every second to II
ear that hair-raising scream behind. Z
"Over ledges and down the mount tt
inside we fed. We leaped from rock Il
rock, and bounded over fallen trees il
nd hollows, never pausing once till 8
e pitched over the rail fence into our c,
asture and knew that We were safe. e,
Feeling pretty shaky we struggled
/ little farther. and then a feeble
llloo brought all the home folks out
meet us-and perhaps we didn't. O.
I've high old time of it for the rest "
that day! We were feasted and re-
iced over like prodigal sons. and our
'petites were just right to take it ali as "a
Father and uncle had spent the pre- az
Gus night on the mountain, searching be
US. The following day We showed 1,
EN- the den and recovered the gun m
ID our torn coats, but found no trace til
the panther or her cubs. She had
taken herself to parts unknown, and sc
yer again as long as we lived there tr
l Thad and hear a panther screech of
und old Grantham's head."-Youth's m
mpanion.
A Polite Cabnan.