The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-26
of critter that gives scars instead Of ta-
king tbem.'

of critter that gives scars instead Of ta-
king them
[ 'Aha! that's It's itg said the Eng
ishman drily-'Well my Aleghanian
friend, | will BET you this gold sovereign
against silver dollar, that my bull-ter-
rier will shake that Aleghanian cur OF
yours to pieces in less than five min
utes by my watch--in short, will make
a single mouthful Of him!
'WaI, wal--that's all fair replied
the Alleghanian, scratching his head
But ye see, mister, Hauk amt had his
vit,les to day, no more than his master,
and it isn't in flesh and blood to Go its
best in fighting on an empty stomack.'
Il will order your dog to be fed then.
You can,. mean while, be eating your
own dinner, and we'll have the fight
afterwards
That's all fair--that's all fair too;-
but, mister, as to planking down my
silver sinner on that yellow piece, |
don't know that altogether like that
some how. We don't see much gold
our way, and that sovrin as you call it.
looks to me for all the world only like
a brass Injun medal
you won't bet on your cur, them
said John Bal contemptuously. 'You
repudaate, perhaps, all you have said in
his praise; in word, you back out
Back out, mister! Nothin' on airth is
further from my natur. tell'd ye |
were boulder-a raal AIleghanian
boulder-and ! am. But want to fix
things IN Christian like manner, and
not rob folks Of their money on the
highway, as it were.'
sHow then shall we make up the
match, my good fellow?' said the Eng
lishman, not unkindly.
Why, now,' replied the Alleshanian
with great simplicity,'if YOU and your
bull terrier want SO much to geta fight
out of Hauk and me, why can't you 60
in and tell the gentleman who keeps the
tavern--whom you know and don't
bnow--why can't you tell the gentle
man to give me and Hauk raaI good
dinner with something good for ieIler
to drink, and then let the dogs fight af-
terwards, to decide which is to pay the
shot. Why can't you do that, | say, if
you are so tearing mad to have fight
tina. you will risk your gold upon it!
The Englishman could not help
laughing heartily at the AlIeghanian's
notion of what constituted fair bet
for the proposed arrangement left John
Bull nothing 10 win, whatever might
be the result of the fight, except the
possible satisfaction of seeing the coun-
tryman's poor cur receive drubbIng
from his bull-terrier. Diverted, how
ever, with such an original, he instant
ly ordered the tavern keeper TO give
the Alleghanian whatever he might
want for himself and his dog, adding
that he would be responsible for the
bill.
'Wa'. guess I'm all ready said our
Alleg ghanian friend, about half an hour
afterwards, as he stepped out on the
piazza, smacklng his lips and wiping his
mouth with his coat sleeve; Il guess
Pm ready, mister, and you may bring
along that bull pup Of yourn as quick
as you please, for have to be going
Here he is,' said John Bull, and in
the same m moment stout, tan colored,
compactIy built and vigorous looking
dog, with tusks like those of wild
bear protruding from his black muzzle
reused himself from under the bench on
which his master was sitting. He gave
a low muffled growl as he rose, while
poor Hauk, who was just thrusting his
nose out of the doorway shrank back
in terror behind the heels of the Allie
ghanian.
'Why, your dog has no fight in him,
my good sir quoth the Englishman,
pettishly.
sDon't be too sure of that answer
ed the other, 'the fight always lays
down deep in our Alleghanian dogs;but
when you onst get at it, tits the raal
thing and no mistake. AS for Hauk
here, he hasn't had his drink yet; and
besides that always talk to him all
alone by himself, just afore he goes in
to a fight always do
'Well, there's water in the horse
trough, and there's the bar room for
your talk said John Bull, utterly con-
founded by what he now cursed, in
wardly, as the cool impudence of the
United Stateser, who had swindled him
out of dinner in the name Of dog
that would not stand up even toreceive
a flogging.
sDrink from horse trough!cried the