The Cairo bulletin., 1905-08-13
x The Bulletins Daily Story :



He hurried along as fast as he was
able, but the dusky shadows Of evening
began to gather around before he
REACHED the edge OF his clearing
Once or twice he had thought that he
heard some one calling, and now he
recognized the voice of his wife She .
vas not at the cabin, but down by the I
edge Of the clearing that lay nearest The
river
He gave quick start when he heard t
, the burden of her cry. She was calling
for the children. and the tone of her
voice told him that she was alarmed at
heir absence
4 He FASTENED toward the cabin. calling
o her as he went. With glad cry she
answered him. and in the deepening
t gloom he saw her hurrying in the same
direction.
What is it. Mary?" he cried, as she
came nearer
The children are gone. and cannot
; lind them, she answered. Il have gone
all about the clearing. but they are not
here. have called to them over aad
/ over again, but received no answer ex-
sept the echoes until heard your
soice"
Where can they have gomez
) 4 know not, but | fear some harm
has come to them
e When did you see them last?"
n 1t must have been more than an hour
ago. was 50 busy al work hat | did
e not miss them until a short time ago
What can have become or them?'
Il don't know. but am almost afraid
a that they have tried to follow you
He gave a great start at these words
y Of his wife for he suddenly remembered
the tracks he had seen in the sand
What II they had wandered up along the
stream and the panther should discover
= them?
9 The thought sent a thrill of terror 10
( his heart, and his limbs trembled from
2 the agitation that shook his frame But
: it lasted only for moment and then
2 he recovered his self-p possession.
! Rushing into the cabin, he took down
z his rife aud was out again beside his
- wife in almost amoment time Which
way shall we go2' she said.
~ Up the branch; they must have gone
y that way Robert wanted To 60 with ms
~ when ! started out
" And he wanted to follow you some
time after yolt had started 1t must b.
nu that they have gone that way.
y They hurried away toward the hanl
rs Of the stream, whete the darkness la,
thick beneath the thick branches Of In
AZ | r,iy 4
ne sand they sought for The footprints >
ny the missing ones, but the gloom was 8
Sht great that they could distinguish notl
ing. In little time, however, the moo
NV would be shining brightly. for ii Wa
'Fh already rising above the tree tops.
nn They called aloud, but the echoes wei
tile the only answer thatcame back save It
~ sound of the dashing water
pr On they hurried along the rough. II
heu even way. AT last they saw before the
I'm patch Of bright moonlight lying {
% the sand. where 1t came down thfoua
fI a rift in the foliage.
M Here, alongside Of his own, the faith
VIA saw the footsteps Of his children in Il
M sand
M They were on the right trail the
n Would Heaven save them from dang
A till they could clasp them in their arm
n Only moment did they stop to exar
IN inc the footprints, and then they hurrit
ga onward. Even now the panther mig
" be watching them. catlille, or feastir
- off their flesh The thought filled the
NA with horror and faster they went, clar
herring over huge powders or hurryiI
along the sand seeking eagerly for Il
III lost ones
m More than once they cast troubl
~ look toward some dark pool, as thoui
they half expected they might be buri
I'm its waters.
AT last they were close upon the 81
where he had seen the tracks Of
panther
"A Before them was ledge Of grant
,,a whick came down close 70 the waite
edge, The moonlight lay along
face and rested at its foot where Y
the heaped pile Of dead forest trees.
Both the parents uttered cry Of j
his for here, nestled in each others arr
g his they beheld their lost ones.
the Calling them by name, the mot
J. sprang forward, but suddenly arres
pany her steps, with a cry Of terror NJ
ance, her lips. The fierce growl Of p
e too Their fell upon their ears.
main CHANGING toward the summit Of
cliff, they saw the huge brute prepa
IT. he to spring upon the helpless childl
soon There was not an instant to L
from. With the rapidity oil thought T.
ckBiA Towle brought his rifle 70 his shou
Usual and fired.
au ne There was a wild Shrek, and
wen' panther sprang high in the air
ID ms fell at their feet There was fl
struggle for moment, and then
aiins lay outstretched dead.
sonie With q glad cry the mother SD
'i"nes forward and clasped her children
- VI har aruoQ with grateful thanks