The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-05-31

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gasped, and together we strove with
all our might to roll a stone before the
opening
Something hurled itself against the
obstruction as It went into place. We
felt the force Of the blow as we des-
perGtely held up the barricade. and
through the cracks we could see
great, tawny colored beast striving to
rend the solid rock with her powerful
claws. Her shrieks of bafied rage
were answered from the back of the
cave with Snarls ana cries.
"Thad groaned as the truth flashed
upon us. We were in the panther's
den Was the mate back there in that
blacliness? Cold perspirati ton broke out
over us as we braced our backs against
the barrier There was a stir in the
rear of the den. Was it coming now?
We shrank closer together and shook
as with ague.
Something hot struck the back Of
my head and neck, and | felt the blood
run With a yell that raised a paude-
monium of growlS sLarlS and spits |
wheeled round and saw that the old
panther had worked her paw through
crack between our barricade and the
mouth Of the den. and was slowly wild
ening the breach. Her head was par
TALLY through the opening. and at my
shout her eyes blazed more nercely, but
She did not draw back. The heavy
boulder was slowly being showed aside
and we could not hold It.
In despair drove my clinched fist
Into her face. and the outstretched
claws. already wet with blood only
strained the more to reach me. snatch
ing mp the gun | showered blows on
her with the clumsy butt, but they
only maddene1 the desperate beast.
Lunging and Ieaping, pushing and
clawlng, she crept farther and farther
inch by inch. inside, while Thad
| braced his feet against the wall of the
den and held on in grim despair.
Il swung the gun round and thrust
with the iron barrel again and again
at the panther. With shrieks of rage
and pain the brute jerked back her
head. | kept deliriously thrustng,
pounding, clubbing, till Thad swung
the stone into place again; then we
| both braced it, facing the darkness
within and trembled
~ won't stand this. Thad whis-
pered. finally. I'm going to strike n
light Here. hold the gun; I've loaded
| it,
/ 81 por,.ot,ei,- ,l,-4otcl Al, .....
and felt Thad searching his pockets
There was the scratch Of a match. ANA
what seemed TO us like an hour before
| It hared up and we saw the interior Of
the den plainly, There was but one
entrance and in the farther corner
were curled up two panther kittens.
Il fairly sobbed iu relief and ioy
ana | rather think that Thad joined in.
But at the strange noises the cubs be
gan calling for their mother and fear
ful Of her strength we hauled heavy
! stones 10 strengthen the barrier.
we We're I'm comparative safety for
the present. and for tlat fact were de-
youuy thankful. but our position was
'ar from being an euyiable one. In to-
tM darkness, shut up IN q den among
the rocks OF Grautham Mountain.
where NO one would ever look for us
or ind ms II they did our jaller an ell
ragged panther-the prospect was not
cheering.
I'VE grew hungry ms darkness set
lied over the outside world and we
thought Of the hot supper awaiting us
at home With fervent longlngs We
chewed some spruce gum. which We
had pred on the trees in the morning.
II allcviated our thirst q little. but was
not particularly filling. My neck was
bound mp with our haudkerchiefs, but
the scratches. although not very deep,
ached and throbbed and added TO my
misery.
What night that was! The cubs
were hungry, too. and their outcrles
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 of on the mountain, but the
mate, If 1t were he, did not appear.
although we were so tired we did
not dare to 60 TO sleep, anAlt was well
that our peril kept us on the alerr, foi
as the cubs grew noisier the panther
again and again sought to gain en-
trance. and IL was only by dlscharglnl
the musket through ar aperture into
the darkness outside that we were
able to keep her off
AT last daylight came, and no prls
eners ever looked out with more long
ing for freedom than did we from be
hind our rocks that morning We were
utterly miserable 10 our musty quar-
ters. faint With hunger and thirst, aud