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rectlv unon the opening IN the eToito, Il


beams lighted up the beautiful spotted bid


Of huge panther This lion. of Eyr


slept wrh her head upon her paws, will
the comfortable dignity Of a great hous


dog. Her eyes which had opened from
time TO time were closed. Her face wa


turned toward the man. a thousand con


fused Thoughts passed through the soldier


bosom. Ills idea was 10 shoot his enemy


Through the head but he saw that iher,


was not room enough for that: the bal


would inevitably have passed her HF


dared not MAKE the slightest movement


les. he should awake her; nothing broke
the deep silence but the breath Of the panlh
er and the beating Of her heart. Twice be


put bis hand upon his scimiiaT, but the diff


fculy of penetrating her hard rough skin


made him relinquish his project To at


ternnt would be certain death. At all e.


vents he resolved to wait for daylight Day
came ut last, and showed the Jaws Of the
+ sIeepinp panther covered with blood


"She has eaten lately" said the French


man to himself "She will not awake II
I hunger"


She was in truth beautiful monster.
/ The fur on her throat and legs was ofa daz-
Z At


like velvet, formed pretty bracelets around
her paws; her large muscular tail was beau
lifullv white terminated by black rings
and the soft smooth fur on her body was Of
a glowing yellow, like unwrought gold
richly shaded with dark brown spots in The
form Of roses.


This powerful but tranquil hostess repos-
ed in as graceful an attitude as {. puss sleep


3 L
outstre.ched paws from which her long
white sme,lers spread out. like silver threads.
Had she been in a cage, the Frenchmaa
would certainly have admired the perfect
symmetry Of her dark form, and the rich
contrast Of colors, that gave such. imperial
brilIiancy to her robe, but alone, and In her
power, i was very different thing Al
he mouth Of the cannon ne had felt his
courage rise with increasing danger but Ii
was sinking now The cold sweat poured
from his forehead, as be watched the sleep
ing panther Considering himself a dead
man, be waited his fate as courageously rs
he could. When the sun rose, the panther |
opened her eyes. stretched out her
paws, and gaped, showing frightfui row |
ofteeth, and great tongue as naFd and as
rough as file. She then shook herself and |
began to wash her bloody paws, passing /
hem from time to time over her ears, like /
kitten. Very well DONE" thought the sol |
iier, who felt his courage returning, "She |
does her toilet very handsomely" He
seed little dagger which be had taken
rom one fthe Arabs-"Come, let Us wish
each other good morning" thought be. Al
his moment the panther turned her head to-
wards him suddenly, and fixed a surprized
md earnest gaze upon him.


The fxedness of her bright metallic
.yes, and their almost Insurpotabe brIlian-
y, made the soldier tremble-especialIy
when the mighty beast moved towards him
With great boldness and presence Of mind
le looked her directly IA the eye having
'iten heard that great power may De obtain
d over animals in that manner " hen
he came up TO him be gently scratched
Ter head, and sm0othed her fur. Her eyes ,
softened-she began to wag her
lil-and at last she Purred like a pet;ed =,
at but SO deep aud strong were her noes !
( Joy that they Fesounded through the cave !
Ike the rolling ola church organ.


The Frenchman redoubled his caresses,
nj when he thought her ferocity was suffi- ,
ienily taken he attempted to leave the gTot- !,
}. The panther made no opposition to his >
cing cut but she soon came. bounding af. .
r him, lifting up her back and rubbing o.
ainst his legs, like an affectionate kitten !
She requires great deal of attention" said 6
lie Frenchman, smiling. He tried to feel ),
er ears and throat; and perceiving she !
-as pleased with it, he began to tickle the s
lck Of her head with the point of his dag :
er, hoping to find favorable opportunity :


stab her, but the hardness Of the bones !
ade him tremble, lest he should not sue !
ed. 4
The beautiful Sultana of the Desert SEEM Il
to tempt the courage of her prisoner, by a
using her head, stretching out her neck, Ii
I'd rubbing against him. The soldier b
lddenly thought that to kill her with one b
ow he must strike her in the threat He 81
Used his blade for that purpose but at that fu
oment she crouched down gently ut his 10
ct, looking up in his face with strange o,
ix.ure of ahectionate and native ferceness. "
he poor Frenchman leaned against the sv
se eating some dates. and casting his eyes b
lxiously round the desert, to see if no one m
as coming TO free him from his terrible
IN panion whose strange friendship was tn
liule to oe trusted. Ele offered to feed her tn
ith some nuts and dates; but she looked I
Ion them with supreme contempt How w
er aS IF sensible to his Kind intentions che an