alternations. That hunt is done for him. We leaves him doctorin'
himse'f an' picks him up two hours later on our triumphant return.

"'As I states, we harries that foogitive panther for eighteen miles an'
in our hot ardour founders two hosses. Fatigue an' weariness begins to
overpower us; also our prey weakens along with the rest. In the half
glimpses we now an' ag'in gets of him its plain that both pace an'
distance is tellin' fast. Still, he presses on; an' as thar's no spur
like fear, that panther holds his distance.

"'But the end comes. We've done run him into a rough, wild stretch of
country where settlements is few an' cabins roode. Of a sudden, the
panther emerges onto the road an' goes rackin' along the trail. We
pushes our spent steeds to the utmost.

"'Thar's a log house ahead; out in the stump-filled lot in front is a
frowsy woman an' five small children. The panther leaps the rickety
worm-fence an' heads straight as a bullet for the cl'arin'! Horrors!
the sight freezes our marrows! Mad an' savage, he's doo to bite a hunk
outen that devoted household! Mutooally callin' to each other, we
goads our hosses to the utmost. We gain on the panther! He may wound
but he won't have time to slay that fam'ly.

"'Gents, it's a soopreme moment! The panther makes for the female
squatter an' her litter, we pantin' an' pressin' clost behind. The
panther is among 'em; the woman an' the children seems transfixed by
the awful spectacle an' stands rooted with open eyes an' mouths. Our
emotions shore beggars deescriptions.

"'Now ensooes a scene to smite the hardiest of us with dismay. No