The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-05-11

the mate back there Ia the darkness' Col
: Precipitation broke out over us ~ We bra,
b cd cur backs sgnlnst the barrier. Ther
= Was stir 10 the rear Of the den. Was
coming nos We .hrsnk closer toge,he
}. and shook as with sgue.
Something bot strutk the back Of IN,
I bead and neck, and felt the blood run
; With yell that raised psndemonium o
arowls, spsrls and spits, wheeled rount
! ard saw that The old panther bad workec
her paw through crack between our bar
! ricsde ard the mouth Of the den. snd va,
! slowly widening the breach. Her head wa,
partially through the opetiag, and at my
shouts her eyes bltz d more nercely, bu,
she did not draw back. The heavy boulder
was ilowly teIng showed aside. ard we
c. uld not hold It.
\ 10 despair drove my clInched fs, into
her fsee, ard the outs,retched clsvs, al
ready wet with blood, only strained the
more to roach me. Snstchirg up the gun,
] showord b'oss On her with the clumsy
butt, hut they only msddened the desper.
ate beast. Lupging and lesping, pushing
and cswing, she cr,pt farther and farther,
isch by inch, inside, while Thsd braced his
feet against the wall OF the den aud held on
10 glim despair.
swung the gun round and thrust with
tie iron barrel again and again at the pam
tier with sbiisks Of rage ara pain the
brute juked back her head | kept delir.
iousls tbrusting, pounding, clubbing, till
Thad swung the stone iato plsce again
then we both brsced y, facing the dai kness
within, and trembling,
wont stand thi', Thad whispered, hu.
ally. I'm z Ing to strike light. Here,
hold the gun; I've loaded 1t.
neIvously clutched the weapon and felt
fhad searching his pockets. There was
the scratch OF a match, and what seemed |
to US like an hour before 1t hired up and
We saw the iaterior Ct the den plainly.
There was but one entrance, and in the far.
ther corner were curlsd up two panther
kittens
| fairly sobbtd 10 relief and jly, and
rat er thli X that Thad )intd 10. But at,
he strange NJ ise The cubs began calling for
their mother and fearful Of her strength,
we hauled heavy stones to strengthen the
barrier.
We were in comparative safety for the
present, and for that fact were devoutly
lhaIkful; bat ur position was far from be-
Ing an envl, BILE one. In total darkness,
shut up In den among the rocks Of Gran.
ham Mountain, where no one would ever
ook for us, or find US II they did, our jsiler
IN enragtd pinther--the prospect was not
cheering.
We grew ungry as dai kness settled over
he outside world, and we thought Of the
lot supper val i'g us at home with few.
rent loDgings. We eLewed some spruce
.um, which we had pried fl the trees In :
morning, IL alleyiattd our thirst little,
'ut was not particularly filling. My neck
vas bound up with our hsndkerchiefs, but
he scratches, although not very deep, ach- :
d and throbbed, and added to my misery.
What night 1t was Toe cnbs were
upgry, too, ard their outcrles were an
wered by the old panther, who stirred :,
bout restlessly near the den, once In
1hi,e emitting scream which made our =
lood run cold. Sometimes we thought an.
ther cry echoed from far of on the noun :,
ain but the mate, II 1t were he did not
ppear.
Although we were so tired, we did not =
are to 60 to sleep, ard 1t was well that :"
ur peril kept us on the alert; for as the @
ubs grew noisier the panther again and :.
gain sought to gain entrance, and 1t was -"
My BY dscbargipg the musket through an ;,
perture into the darkness outside that we ',
ere able to keep her OF. =,
At last daylight came, and no prisoners "
'er looked out with more longing for free. - -
)m than did we from behind our rocks "
lat morning. We were utterly miserable !,
our musty quarters, faint with hunger W
ID thirst; and the continual wall Of the =.
lbs had become uncomfortable.
Thad, why can't we throw them out =, -
hispered, txcitedly. IL she would lug ~
em of and purr over them while per- W
Ips we could slip out Of this, r.
We couldn't get the petky things out =. -
had grumbled, disconsolately. The old ~
e would be right on top Of US II we NOV. ~ -
the stone.
Oar late experiences added point to his 49,
j ;ction. but as 1t was our only chance Of !. !.
cape, we decided to trvi T.. =. m
Drawing { fl our coats, we crpt into the A.
rner by the light Of matches, and not "a
thout some scratches and good deal OF
ss, secured the kittens and wrapped them n,
the stout home-spun jackets. Then In -,
.pidation we laid the gun ready. | held
G struggling cub close to the crack, and ro
len Thad moved the barrier, bundled 1t -
t. and we swung the stone into place -,
ain. w.
The. coat had no sooner touched the =.
ound than with fpriug from above the ~. ~
nther was on It, rending and shaking the ~ ~
rment with implacable rage, till out roll -. 49,
the cub and then her perpt kitty was -. -.
nlcal to witness. She was soon convin-
that she had really regsintd her ca.
ing, however, ard after smelling and Wv
hing It, she laid hold Of the loose skin -
the back Of Its neck aud moved proudly
with the youpg ore dangling from her t.,
ulh.
/ ilek whispered Thsd. Throw out the -.
Ter one while we know where be IL.
did iuDde l. out, heels over head, and ~,
10 we fastened up the hole securely. -,
rbe youpgster expressed bis resentment =
this summary j ction 10 An IN tell 80,
a. Ala 49, ,.utt a.. xfa ~ss