He thought of the panther and the other wild beast, whatever it was, supposed to be roaming about in the woods.

Then the moon disappeared as suddenly as it had lighted up the scene, and the big paws still pattered on toward him in the darkness, regardless of his repeated challenge.
As the underbrush crackled again with the weight of the great body now almost upon him, the sentry raised his rifle.

A shot rang out, arousing the camp not yet fully settled to sleep.

The echo bounded back from the startled hills, and rolled away over the peaceful farms and orchards, growing fainter and fainter, until only a whisper of it reached the white tent where the Little Colonel lay dreaming.

Then the moon shone out again, and the sentry, going a few paces forward, looked down in horror at the silent form stretched out at his feet..