Year: 1860

tor at March, the men and women battle in
the river on alternate nights. and we. un-
informed of this arrangement, happened to
come there somewhat nadtapropos, mis-
take that might have led to serious results
for US. if we had not Immediately retreat
! ed


We had gained some distance from the
groups of bathers when we were startled
by shrill, agonizing cry, which seemed to
come from that direction. Retracing our
steps in haste, We found the bathers crowd.
ing together in CONSERVATION, a dozen
young girls in the midst of them tearing
out their hair and beating themselves with
all their might, according to the Arab Gus
tom, in token of despair. From these girls
we learned that just as they were plunging
INTO the river, an enormous panther sprang
among them, and seizing one, threw her
upon his back, and fled away toward the
mountain with his prey.


In short time, more than three hun
dred Arabs had arrived at the spot, some
armed with lances. and battle-axes. others
with cimeters, pistols, and match-locks;
for, so piercing was the cry of the young
girl carried off by the savage beast, that
it penetrated the encampment, and was
heard in the still night through the gardens
and dwellings of March. People guessed
by instinct, at the cause of it, armed them
selves in haste, and came down upon the
banks of the Doua.


just as they arrived, the terrible yells
of the panthers indicated the course they
had taken. Then every man uttered an
imprecation; abbaycs were tucked up,
arms made ready for action, and the aven-
gers dashed forward in pursuit of the
GROWERS.


In short time they had crossed the
Valley of the Dikes, and gained the foot
of one of the mountains by which it is
fanked, up which, in the bright moonlight,
they saw two panthers going at great
speed. The foremost of the two beasts ap-
peared to bound with great difficulty, en-
numbered as he was with the burden car
ried by him. By a providential chance
the girl-a child of eight or nine years-had
SO fallen on the panther's back that she
could clasp the neck of the monster with
her arms, clinging to him with all her
might, and buryIng her hands in his thick
fur. The second panther could readily
have outstripped the first, but appeared to
keep behind for the purpose of covering
the retreat.


Once in view of the panthers, the hun
ters, hitherto scattered upon the track, clos
ed together into compact group, each man
pressing forward and putting himself to the
top of his speed to be first at the attack
A hundred reports now rang through the
hollows of the mountain. and the hinder
most panther rolled heavily to the ground,
uttering frightful yells. .


The other beast, seeing that his purstl-
ers were gaining upon him, and frightened
probably, by the shots, redoubled his
efforts to escape still keeping fast hold of
his victim.


But the space between him and the hun
ters was diminishing vislbly Long since
they would have fired on him, but through
fear ofinjuring the child, to whom the only
chance appeared to be to attack the animal
with the lance and sword. Twenty of the
pursuers, more nimble, more vigorous than
the rest. were now upon him, when sud
denly, he dove into hole under great
mass of rock, and disappeared from view.


Now, who dares follow? The hunters
are looking at each other, in fear and doubt,
when young man from among them
throws off his sommada, abbaye, and fouta,
places his cimeter between his teeth, and
taking a torch and axe in one hand and
pistol in the other, creeps into the cavern.


The panther, dazzled by the light of the
torch, sat still in the chamber of the den,
the young girl lying on the floor beside
her, swooning, but not dead, for her body
was still palptating. The hunter looked
steadily at the wild beast, who glared liz
turn upon him, gathering herself up for
spring, while the grotto reSounded with
her angry growls: her eyes glowing like
globes of fire; her hair bristling up On end,
and her tail thrashing her fanks as she
curled her lips to display her terrible teeth.
For, exhausted as she was by her long run
she was ready to do battle-no longer,
however, for her prey, but now in defence
of her cubs, which were in the den-for
this was female panther


Before she could spring upon him, how
ever the hunter took steady ann, and sent a
pistol bullet through her shoulder. Then
came fearful plunges and yells, and dead
ly silence.


Now some of those outside, shamed into
action, crept into the den, from which they
soon emerged, some dragging with them
the body of the panther, while others car
ried out the young girl, and assisted her
defender, who was wounded.


Here Abu-Bekr-el-Doanini, lifting up
his voice, cried in a loud tone, Allah has
clearly extended his protection TO the young
girl, for, not only has he sent man of rare
courage, bat one of unlimited knowledge
to heal her wounds Approach, Hadji,"
continued he, addressing me, s'approach,
and restore fully to life her who had been,
who is still, on the point of death


\ passage was made for me through the
crowd, but having nothing whatever with
me in the way of remedies, recommended
that the wounded should be carried to the
encampment; and in little more than a
quarter of an hour, they were both under
nay tent.


By this time the little girl had partially
recovered her senses, but she had a severe
wound in her side where the panther had
seized her with his teeth to throw her on
his back There was nothing in it, how
ever, to dispel hopes of her recovery.