Lhoks was a handsome animal, and the boys and girls who gathered in crowds around his cage gazed at him with round eyes of admiring awe9. He happened to be a very large specimen10 of his kind, measuring about eleven feet in length. His coat was reddish-brown, now grown somewhat shabby, owing to his long confinement11 in the narrow cage. A small patch of white fur marked either side of his muzzle12. His snarling13 lips showed jet black, also the tip of his tail, which he lashed14 angrily. His eyes, which Lhoks half closed when angry or cross, were of gleaming greenish yellow, showing golden lights. Over his cage door one might read: "Panther, or American Lion."
It happened three years before, that Lhoks and two other small panther cubs16 had been left alone by the old panthers, who went off to hunt; feeling lonely, but full of mischief18 and play, they came out of their safe den15, to frolic upon a wide flat ledge19. There upon the rock they all played together happily, rolling over each other and cuffing20 with their clumsy kitten-like paws. And there the hunter came across them, and so young and unafraid were the small panthers that they allowed the man to carry them off. When the old panthers returned to the den it was quite empty; their babies were gone. For days and days they followed vainly the long trail of the robber, with red, revengeful eyes, but they never caught up with him.
Two of the cubs died in captivity21, but Lhoks, stronger and more lusty than the others, lived. For three years he had travelled with the menagerie, but he hated the life, and with all the longing22 in his heart he would dream, in his wild way, of the dark, sweet scented23 woods, the safe retreats where he might hide in secret, silent places of his forest. Most of all did he hate the blare of the loud music, which made him howl, and deeply too did he resent the staring eyes of the curious crowds. Sullenly he would glower25 back at them. Often he felt weak and sick in the close confining quarters of his hated cage; so much so, that he would stretch out his tawny26 body miserably27 upon the floor and lie there for hours. But alas28 for poor Lhoks during show hours, should he chance to appear stupid and sleepy and ill when the people came to stare at him! Then someone was sure to reach into his cage with a long red pole, to the end of which was attached a cruel, sharp spike29, and then they would poke30 and prod31 the poor animal until he got upon his feet. Just one sharp prod of the spike was usually enough to make Lhoks jump up and snarl7 and begin once more his endless pacing back and forth, from end to end of his prison.
Then the delighted crowd would shiver and exclaim at his dreadful fierceness, and often poke him playfully with canes33 or umbrellas, just to make him yell loudly. The howls of Lhoks the panther were terrifying, and when he screamed out it usually stirred up all the other animals of the menagerie.
If Lhoks hated the crowds, he soon learned to dread32 most of all the long, overland journeys by rail. Then the cages would all be loaded upon goods trucks, and for days they would rumble34 and jolt35 and sway dizzily in their close, ill-smelling quarters; if water was not handy, sometimes the attendants neglected them, and forgot that the poor caged things were very thirsty. Often at the end of a trip they arrived faint, car-sick, and so exhausted36 they were barely able to stagger to their cramped37 legs.
The season for the menagerie was drawing to its close, and they were about to go East for the winter. The glittering cages had been opened to the public for the last time in a small Western town, where the wondering boys and girls had taken their last look at Lhoks, the panther, and his wild companions. The last cage had been loaded upon the truck, and the long, heavy train started out upon its journey. Old King, the lion, had died, and most of the other animals showed only too plainly the effects of their long confinement and hard life. The tawny coat of poor Lhoks was shabbiest of all. It actually looked moth-eaten in places, and his sides showed plainly enough the scars which the sharp spike had made. His ribs38 were seen through his lean hide, for he had almost lost his appetite; he felt weak and discouraged. So he just lay stretched listlessly upon the floor of his cage, while the long train jolted39 and screamed its way across the flat country of the West. Fortunately, the cage of the panther had been placed in such a position that Lhoks soon discovered that by standing40 upon his hind5 legs he could actually peer out through his small, grated window at the country through which they journeyed. In this respect, he was more lucky than the others, for the gazelle and hyena41 cages had been placed with their small, ventilating windows pushed up against the other cages, so they could not look out.
For many days, whenever Lhoks chanced to look forth from his small window, they appeared to be passing over the same flat, uninteresting plain, although occasionally he caught a fleeting42 glimpse of forest and hills in the distance. At night he would lie flat gazing up longingly43, managing to catch a peep at the little winking44 stars, and sometimes, when it was bright moonlight, he would grow very restless and unhappy, pacing up and down, howling dismally45. How he hated the commotion46 and loud noises about the goods yards, when their train was shunted back and forth over points, creaking and squealing47, with much loose rattling48 of rusty49 iron couplings, and yells from the railwaymen, who swung red-eyed lanterns, and ran swiftly and lightly over the tops of the cages.
Finally, after many weary days, for their train was a very slow one, Lhoks began to brighten up, for the air which now found its way into his close cage had begun to change and freshen; now he would stand at his small, barred window and sniff50 in long drafts of it with keen delight. Also, Lhoks saw that they had now left the disagreeable, flat country, and were speeding through wild forests, where giant spruce and pines grew dense51 and tall. Off in the distance there were glimpses of purple chains of mountains, and rolling, peaceful hills. From that time on, Lhoks became a changed animal; as by magic all his weariness appeared to vanish; he was once more himself, wild and alert. All night he would stand now at the window just breathing in the tonic52 of this fine, new air, the bracing53 odours which came from thousands of fragrant54 balsams and pines. For, although Lhoks did not suspect it, he happened to be passing, at that time, right through the very heart of his own home country, the land where perhaps even then his parents were still roving wild and free through the hidden jungles of the great North woods.
The long, snake-like train rumbled55 and screeched56 its way through the night, hooting57 and echoing through the deep mountain cuts, then gliding59 out over long moonlit stretches, where moist odours from the woods came in waves to poor Lhoks in his prison cage.
"Chuck, chuck, chuck-chuck, chuck," repeated the iron truck wheels, over and over again, almost like the rhythm of some tiresome60 song. Then, suddenly, on ahead, the great engine began to send forth hoot58 after hoot, strange alarm cries, whistlings and screechings which echoed through the silent forest. Lhoks instinctively61 knew something had happened, and leaped to his feet. The next moment the heavy truck, cages and all, had been tossed from the rails and lay a splintered mass at the foot of a deep cutting.
Something wonderful happened to Lhoks, the panther, for his cage had chanced to fall right side up, and one wall of it had actually fallen out; he was free—free at last. It took a few seconds for the poor wild thing to discover that he was a prisoner no longer, after spending so many long, hateful years in his close cage. But very soon all his old, wild nature asserted itself, and he made out that there were tall waving pines all about him, instead of walls and iron bars, and beneath a dense, black jungle of spruce—fine places to hide. Gathering62 up all his strength, with one long leap Lhoks, the captive, bounded off to his freedom and the shelter of the woods.
Of course, in the excitement which followed the wreck63, no one thought of looking for the panther; for, as it happened, he was the only animal which had managed to escape alive. Lhoks could not travel so very fast at first, for he had a touch of rheumatism64, and his legs were almost stiff from long confinement, while his usually sharp claws were quite worn off and dulled. So he skulked65 along the ground, hiding himself in some deep, wooded retreat far away from the shouts of the railwaymen. Having rested he finally began to take some interest in his appearance, groomed66 his roughened coat and sharpened his dull claws upon a log. Suddenly he realized that he was hungry. Oh, how delightedly did he quench67 his thirst at a beautiful, fern-grown pool. Then one day he discovered the trail of a lone17 wood-cutter and followed it for hours, because he began to feel lonely, and also was hungry. Perhaps he imagined that the man would feed him, as had his keeper. It was lucky for poor, trusting Lhoks that the man did not spy him, or he might have been shot, for the man would surely have supposed the panther was trailing him for its prey68.
Lhoks forsook69 the man's trail finally, and that day he managed to catch a rabbit, which served him very well. For weeks so wandered the poor, solitary70 panther all alone over the wild forest trails. Each day fresh strength and courage came to him; already his tawny coat had lost its roughness; the new hair was coming in, filling the deep scars upon his sides with soft, fine fur. Suddenly he began to feel so very happy that for sheer playfulness, and because of his loneliness, he would play kittenishly, rolling and pawing about a round stone which he found; springing high in the air he would often chase his own shadow down the moonlit trails; occasionally, he would strive to gain some almost forgotten scent24, then he would lift his black muzzle and utter a long, lonely yell—a cry in the night, once heard, never forgotten, this yell of a panther—just a pleading cry for his lost companions for whom he yearned71.
Once Lhoks met with an encounter which he never forgot. He happened upon a round ball of curious appearance which lay right in his path, and feeling in a playful mood, he boldly jumped at the thing, tossing it about. Then suddenly the bundle unrolled itself, an ugly blunt snout appeared, and two sullen1 angry eyes glared at him insolently72. Before he could back away, a prickly tail slapped him smartly right across his soft, black muzzle, and it was filled with quills73. After that, Lhoks, the panther, never forgot how Unk-Wunk, the porcupine74, looked when he rolled himself into a ball and went to sleep upon the trail. It became harder to find food down in the lowlands, so Lhoks took to the mountain passes, and thus it happened, one memorable75 day, he chanced upon a strangely familiar, alluring76 scent. For a day he trailed it, drawing gradually nearer and nearer, and as he found the scent keener, Lhoks began to feel greatly excited, filled with courage and hope, for he had stumbled across an old trail of one of his own kindred.
SUDDENLY THE BALL UNROLLED ITSELF, AND AN UGLY BLUNT SNOUT APPEARED.
SUDDENLY THE BALL UNROLLED ITSELF,
AND AN UGLY BLUNT SNOUT APPEARED.
With his wild senses all alert, Lhoks now continued to follow patiently the trail. It brought him at last out upon a plateau, or clearing. Closer and closer to the edge of the ledgy77 plateau crept Lhoks, now crawling low upon his stomach, exactly like a cat. Then, having gained the edge, hanging his great tawny head over the rock, he peered with curious, wistful eyes at the strangely beautiful sight spread just beneath him. Upon a jutting78 rock frolicked five panther cubs; little furry79 creatures they were, barred with dark tiger-like stripes, as are all young panthers. There in the sunshine they were playing innocently, while Lhoks watched them wistfully and anxiously, with half-shut, curious yellow eyes, his whole body shaking and trembling with nervous longing to be with them. Even the tip of his tail lashed the rock frantically80, so interested had he become in the kitten cubs. They were quite alone, for the mother panther, having lost her mate, was even now away seeking food for them.
At last, unable to withstand the cunning ways of the cubs an instant longer, Lhoks leaped lightly down among them, and so trusting were they that he became acquainted with them at once. When the mother panther returned, she found a stranger with her babies, playing with them, letting them roll over him and tease him roughly, mauling him about as they would, while Lhoks, the lonely one, lay stretched out contentedly3 purring for sheer happiness. Strangely enough the mother panther did not resent the appearance of Lhoks; perhaps she imagined he would be useful in helping81 her forage82 for food for her family. At any rate, she welcomed him with peaceful purrs, and so all was well. Thus did Lhoks, the panther, come back to his kindred once again in the heart of the great forest.
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1
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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13
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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14
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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cubs
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| n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 ) | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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cuffing
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| v.掌打，拳打( cuff的现在分词 )；袖口状白血球聚集 | |
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21
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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23
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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24
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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25
glower
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| v.怒目而视 | |
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tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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27
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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30
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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prod
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| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
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32
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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33
canes
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| n.（某些植物，如竹或甘蔗的）茎( cane的名词复数 )；（用于制作家具等的）竹竿；竹杖 | |
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34
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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35
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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38
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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39
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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41
hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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42
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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43
longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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44
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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45
dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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46
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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47
squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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48
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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49
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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50
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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51
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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52
tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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53
bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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54
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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55
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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56
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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57
hooting
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的现在分词 )； 倒好儿； 倒彩 | |
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58
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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59
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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60
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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61
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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62
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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63
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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65
skulked
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
groomed
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| v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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67
quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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68
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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69
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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70
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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71
yearned
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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73
quills
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| n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管 | |
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74
porcupine
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| n.豪猪， 箭猪 | |
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75
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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77
ledgy
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| adj.突出物很多的，有暗礁的 | |
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78
jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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79
furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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80
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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81
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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82
forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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