Year: 1860

a grunt and drawl; and the critter
seems to be coming this way


Yes 1 replied, and l should judge
from his scream that hunger was driving
him to seek supper


Scarcely had ] uttered these words,
and gathered up the reins for the control
of my now thoroughly frightened horse,
than the terrible cry was repeated in
closer proximity, and the panther was
heard approaching us in long and crush
ing leaps down the mountains side.


Uncle Joe by this time was completely
aroused from his stupor-he sat more
erect and firmly, and the rife was brought
down from his shoulder and grasped
tightly in his right hand.


I'VE are in for it, my boy, said he, in
low hushed tone 8 its run or fight,


and fight l guess: anyway we'll try the
! first, and if so be that we can keep out of


the claws of the critter till the moon gifts


up over the tops of the trees, perhaps we


shall be all safe if we come to the last


Run it was for the next ten or fifteen


minutes, with such speed as we could


command over rough road, when with


scream and bound, the bloodthirsty


pursuer sprang from ledge of rocks into


the clear path, short distance in our


rear.


Hold up said Uncle Joe; we've


done up our running, and now the mat


ter must be settled after another fashion.


There, I'll get off and try titles with the


critter, and see whether he shall have


my carcass or his'n.'


At this time a food of soft, silvery


moonlight poured through the cleft in the


forest upon our road, when looking back
, from the place of our halt, the panther
) an enormous animal, with blazing eye.
balls, was dimly revealed in half crouch
. ed position, not more than ten or fifteen
! rods away.


My legs are little onsteady,' saiC
! Uncle Joe, 'and my arms are shaky, likt
so I'll just lie down here in the roat


and try pull at the bloody varmint.-
When the rife cracks do you run you
= horse down to the big pine by the spring
: and there hold up and listen. If vol
i don't hear my call when you get there
< then ride home as fast as you can, fo
: Uncle Joe will be in kingdom come
f This was said deliberately, and withou
e the slightest tremor of voice. l canno
e say that l was as seE-possessed, bre
n though l was amidst the dangers of th
: wilderness.


n The brave old man turned and took
# few steps towards his enemy, whic
Is seemed to be feeling sure of suppe
J. then stretched himself out at the bottoI
l. of slight knoll, across which he poise
l. his rife. | turned my face now in th
e. direction in which / was to ride-a ms
d ment of terrible and agonizing suspen;
y ensued, a moment only, for l had no mol
= than settled myselfon my beast than tt
Ie signal came, and obeyed instruction
ID The goal was reached at racing gallo
Is and there l drew up my painting stet
le and turned to listen. Even then Il
le halloo of Uncle Joe came ringing chez
OF lily through the arches of the forest to n


ear. l turned and rode back with
ut bounding heart, and there was the o
;h hunter leaning on his rife, by the sit
"a of the dead panther. held out my han
be which he grasped, and with choking [
ed terance made out TO say, Uncle Joe =.
+" Ah, my dear boy said he, that was
be sho. worth telling on-look there ? al
.st he lifted up the head of the animal a
ry pointed to bullet hole Immediately
it tween the eyes.


or We loaded the panther upon the ba
IT. of our horse, and walking on either sic
EST reached home about the midnight no,
MS The family had not yet retired, and We
to in high state of excitement and ala
ng respecting US. By the blazing hear
Tn while cheeks blanched and eyes fill
he with tears, we told the story of {
nd peril, and Of the DEAD SHOT BY Moo


a LIGHT.


on