Year: 1876

ulciuC Oy ihONAhb CdItu. anu ln0 Shol


crash OF dead trees that here line'


the mountain-this, added to the roa
OF the tempest. that seemed 10 hav,


increased greatly in viol nee, while


slept, all combined to make a nois,


which appalled, me, and for momen


rendered me incapable of motion.
1t was but moment, however, tha


was thus rendered powerless; theI


1 sprang to my feet, and rushed to


ward the entrance OF the cave, ant


would have dasl e1 out into / hardl,


know what. had / not been deteueo


by pair Of fiery, cleaning eyes, tha
1 at once knew to belong TO a hug,
panther, who, like myself, had sough
shelter from the tempest in the cave


Those eyes saved my life then
though, an hour after, I blamed my
self that had not dashed upon thu
brute, and rushed out into the TEN
pest; but the beast knew better how
to preserve his life than 1 did; for
had we rushed forth into the untold
dangers without, we should both have
perished, and I should not be nara.
ting this story.


In my fright had been about to &C
forth without my rifle, that / had
leaned against the rocky wall neal
where l had lain down; and now
turned toward it to take the life oil
the panther that barred my way out
into the night. But before / had
possessed myself Of it. and taken de-
liberate aim. lucky thought deterr-
ed me, and desisted from my pur-
pose. The beast, without doubt, was
frightened as myself; yet it knew
that IL was In greater safety where il
was than it would be should it rush
forth into the dangers of the dark
ness outside


Louder and more terrible grew the
struggle without, and the very noun
tain was trembling as if it was pos
sessed OF life. The crash sounded
nearer, until at last the war above
our heads was terrific: then it slowly
died away. Nothing could be felt but
the jar of the earth, nothing heard
but "a sound OF thunder as il We're un-
der the ground; and then the rush
and roar died away altogether. and
knew that the avalanche OF stones
and sand had at last found a resting
place far down in the valley at the
foot Of the mountain, and that its
course had been directly above my
head. Had gone forth as intend
ed, should have been swept away in
the flood OF rocks and sand as though
/ had been a feather. To the shining
, yes OF the panther / owed my life
and 1 could at that moment have
hugged the beast in my arms had he
been but willing to submit to my en-
braces.


/ listened for the sound of the tenn
pest, but all was still as death. A
moment before / had heard it roar
ing above the crashing OF the slide.
Had 1t subsidized all at once, This
was hardly possible; still not sound
came from the outside world, or a
CLEAN Of light, such as had come in
from the darkness when l had laid
down TO sleep. What could it mean
was the question 1 asked myself, but
could get no answer


I could not see the eyes of the pan
ther now. but knew that he was still
in the cave, for / could hear him
moving round warily. L wondered
that he did not go out and see what
the storm had done, as he must be
possessed OF some curiosity as well
as myself. Perhaps. il 1 advanced,
he would go out, or at least he would
turn his eyes upon me; and did not
fear him IL he did, for l had my trusty
rifle. Yet / did not wish to harm him.
for he had been my companion
through the moments OF terror that
had passed.


The panther was moving about the
entrance OF the cave, and as 1 ad-
vanced step forward. the brute
turned its gle ming eyes upon me;
still 1t made no sign that it was Of
Tended at my movements. Iadvanc-
ed another step, with my rifle sighted
upon those eyes, with the same re-
suit; another. and the eyes were be-
hind me, with no hostile movement
on the part Of their owner.


With my back toward the entrance
| moved onward, and two steps more
thought me against a mass OF rock
and sand; and, with a horror that
can not express, found why it was
that the sound OF the storm could not
come to me. The avalanche had
buried the entrance of the cave in
such a manner as to keep out all
sound, the mass OF earth may be-
twenty feet in thickness, and / and
the panther were entombed alivel


For few moments this discovery
rendered me incapable OF action and L
leaned against the side OF the cave in
mute despair. But in a short time,
by powerful effort, 1 came back to
myself. and, laying down my rifle, all
unmindful OF the presence Of my saw
age companion, l tried the firmness
OF the mass of earth that shut me in
from the outer world. The loose
earth could readily remove with my
hands. and / set about my task with
a will. For an hour / labored with
all my might until my hands were
bleeding from the contact with the
rocks and gravel, and then my prog
ress stayed by that which was more
than the power OF man unaided to re-
move. 4 huge rock had fallen so
that it had completely filed up the
mouth OF the cave, being wedged in
between the cliffs. that formed its
sides in such manner as to COM
pletely fill up every nook Of the en-
trance, rendering escape impossible