Beadle's Dime Novels No. 138: Tim, the Scout — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘TIM AND THE ‘PANTHER. 48 “Many a man sleeps on a softer bed,” said Tim, “but no one has a better coverlet than mine, the blue heaven sprinkled wid stars. Sure a poor wild Trishwia like mesilf, is as happy as the best of them.” For more than an hour he was wide awake, and at the end of that time, fell into a tranquil slumber. The hours passed on, and Tim dreamed that there was something heavy on his breast. He woke suddenly, and saw a dark object outlined between himself and the sky, and knew that it not alla dream. Some huge hairy beast had climbed into the tree, and laid himself at length upon him. The bold heart of Tim Whaleff stood still. What a situation. He lay on his back, and the huge beast covered him from head to foot, and he could not free his body from the branch to which he lad tied himself, neither did he dare to move, lest he should invite an attack. It is a remarkable characteristic of the feline race that they do not like to touch a body which ap- pears to be dead, and the panther, for it was one of those terrible beasts which had Tim for company, was waiting for Some moyement on the part of his victim, before he attacked him in real earnest. Tim knew at a glance, by the outline of the head, the character of the animal with which he had to contend—the “ Indian Devil.” The round head and short ears could belong to no other beast in the world. Besides, it was beginning to get lighter, and — ar pie morning was coming. The brave fellow, after the first thrill of fe ar, was himself again, and began to think how he might assail the great monster effectually. Luekily, his hands ‘were free, and he could move them without touching the body of the panther. Ne got his’ right hand free, and began to slip it impercep- bly toward the pistols which hung upon the tree. The first movement of his hand. was erected by a sharp growl on the - _ part of the panther, and Tim stopped. Again and agai he pS pushed it forward, and at Jast laid his hand upon the pistols, and removed elim fron: the limb. Ashe brought his hand” back, the panther put up a paw and gave the arm a playful — pat, which nearly caused the weapons to fall to the ground, This was.an admonition to’ caution, which Tim understood: He determined now’ to wait until morning, as every thing COmMICHOooks.comn