The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-06-13

had prled of the trees In the morning
1t alleylated our thirst a little, but was
not particularly filling. My neck was
bound mp with our handkerchiefs, but
the scratches, although not very deep,
ached and throbbed and added to my
misery.
"What a night that was! The cubs
We're hungry, too, and their outcrles
were answered by the old panther, who
stirred about restlessly near the den,
once in a 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 1t were he, did not appear
Although we were so tired we did
not dare to 80 to sleep, and 1t was well
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 1t was only by dlscharging
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-
ters. faint with hunger and thirst, and
the continual wall of the cubs had be-
come unendurable.
Thad, why can't we throw them
out? l whispered. excitedly. If she
would lug them off and purr over them
while perhaps we could skip cut of
this.
"'We couldn't get the pesky things
outp Thad grumbled. disconsolately
The old one would be right on top of
us if we moved the stone
"Our late experiences added point to
bis objection, but as it was our only
chance OF escape we decided TO try it.
Drawing off our coats we erept into
the corner by the light Of matches, and
not without some scratches and good
deal of fuss, secured the kittens and
wrapped them in the stout homespun
jackets. Then in trepidation we laid
the gun ready. l held the struggling
cub close to the crack, and when Thad
moved the barrier bundled 1t out and
we swung the stone into place again.
"The coat had no sooner touched the
ground than with a spring from above
the panther was on it, ronding and
shaking the garment with implacabIe
rage till out rolled the cub, and then
her perpiexity was comical to witness.
She was soon convinced that she had
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 hel
mouth.
"Quickr whispered Thad. Throw
out the other one while we know where
she is
II did trundle II out. heels over head
and then we fastened up the hole Sc
curely.
"The youngster expressed his resent
menl at this summary election in al
I'll tell mother whine that brought
the old one bounding back. Shit
grabbed him up in haste and lugget
him off. too, and then we waited.
"For hours we sat there, doing moth
ing but fume and sputter at our predic
ament. Then. as everything was silen
in the woods roundabout we decided
to reconnoiter for the enemy. Screw
ing our courage up as well as we couls
we cautiously put out our heads. ans
as nothing happened we crept fortl
1 and peered about among the rocks.
mo panther was visible, and care
fully removing our shoes we crawle,
downward on our hands and knees
keeping well out of sight from above
Reaching the smoother ridges we con
cluded to make dash for il, and dow
we went. expecting every second t
hear that hair-raising scream behind.
'0yer lodges and down the mount
ainsIde we fed. We leaped from roc
to rock, and bounded over fallen tree
and hollows. never pausing once til
we pitched over the rail fence into ou
pasture and knew that we were safe.
Feeling pretty shaky we struggles
on a little farther. and then feebl
halloo brought all the home folks on
to meet us-and perhaps we didn'
have a high old time of it for the res
of that day! We were feasted and RI
joiced over like prodigal sons. and ou
appetltes were just right to take it a
In.
Father and uncle had spent the pre-
vioas night on the mountain, searchin
for us. The following day we Shove
them the den and recovered the gu
and our torn coats, but found no trac
of the panther or her cubs. She ha
betaken herself to parts unknown, an
never again as long as we lived ther
did Thad and hear panther screec
round old Grantham's ead."-Youth
Companion.
A Polite Cabman.