Year: 1876

For a few moments this discovery rem
1ered me incapable Of action, and leaned
against the side Of the cave in mute despair,
But in short time. by powerful effort, !
came back 10 myself, and laying down my
rifle, all unmindful Of the presence Of my
savage companion. tried the hrmness Of
the mass OF earth that shut me in from
the outer world. The loose earth | could
readily remove with my hands, and | sat
about my task with 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 progress was
stayed by that which was more than the
power Of man unaided could remove. A huge
rock had fallen so that il had completely
filed up the mouth Of the cave, being
wedged in between the cliffs that formed its
sides in such a manner as to completely Ill
tp every nook Of the entrance, rendering es-
cape impossible. Human hands unaided
could never move it from the place where
il had fallen. The door Of our tomb was
sealed so that it never could be opened


While was laboring TO effect my escape
At the entrance, the panther had remained
quiet at the back Of the cave, with his eyes
fixed upon me every moment OF the time, a.
II he knew that | was working for us both,
and meant him no harm. When ! ionnd that
all efforts were useless, came back to my
old bed, and threw myself down in despair.
| Then the panther moved to the entrance, as
| { to see what had done, and to do his part
of the work whereby we could effect our
escape


could hear him scratching with his
sharp claws against the sides OF the rocks.
as Law abandoning myself to despair. I
wondered how long could live in my tomb /;
how long the panther would last me for food
Il | should kill il when the pangs of hun
ger became so great that could not bear
them; if my friends would search for me !
and, il they did. if there would be any pos
,ibility OF their finding my prison. That
they could, / had no hope, for, without
donbt, should they ever pass above my head,
all signs of the cave had been destroyed by
the slide. No; there was no hope. And 50
abandoned myself to utter despair.


While filled with these thoughts OF my
terrible situation, was not unmindful OF
the motions of the panther. At last, appar-
emily as well satisfied as had been that es-
cape was quite impossible in that direction,
he came toward me- and grasped my rifle !;
for although thought must die, did not
wish TO be killed by a wild beast. Yet did
not want to harm the brute until | was con-
vinced that he meant me mischief, which as
yet he had shown no disposition to do.


With its fiery eyes turned upon me, the
panther passed by me, and went TO the far
iher end of the cave and there | could hear
him at work again. For an hour it must
have been he kept intently on. This gave
me new hope. Might there not be an outlet
in that direction which the panther by in
stinct had discovered This hope alone
brought back all the old affection tina.
felt for my companion.


Suddenly | became conscious that the
, scratching sound had ceased. For moment
| | saw the eyes CLEAN, then they disappeared
and heard a sound as if the panther was
forcing his body through an aperture ]
sprang to my feet, rushed toward the spot
| No panther was there; but there was the
aperture, large enough to admit his body,
though not mine; and the cool current oil
air was issuing therefrom. The aperture IN
some manner led to the outer world; oil that
| | could not doubt.


NV companion had worked its way to
freedom; and at once fell about doing the
same now that he had set me the example
and showed me the way. A long time
worked; longer than the panther, for my
DAVIS were not so used to digging; but al
last the hole was sufficiently large for me tc
work my way through; and when ! hat
done so, dragging my rifle after me, founc
myself in a narrow passage o. nearly th'
same length as that which | had left. l
led onward for some distance, turning NOR
than once; and you can imagine my 10.
when saw the rays of the morning SUI
without, and knew that night and danger
were passed.


was saved-and TO the panther | owe'
nv salvation.--A Settler IN the Far Wes