The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-08-30
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
SHOT BETWEEN THE EYES.
BY PAUL CREYToN.

~ .I eu' ger STOOD but three rods off the
1uns. 1 stLuck hm between the eyes and he fell
1t was on bank of n river in II,;,o;s A.
kers had been out hunting, and owing IN wan
ton disooedience in Tiger he had missed shoot
ing tnfee deer. Tiger would bark; therefore
fate of Tiger. ~ 'e '''e ias'c
AS soon as the dog was dead, Dick renen,ed
Although he dragged the carcass inte ,be
shade OF some bushes on the edge of the grove
near the stream, and got his knife all ready TO
SKIN nm, his heat failed him, and he wouldr,r
do it. o "outon
g DICK sat sat- down upon log, looking sorrow.
iully at Tiger, and meditated on the evil con,
sequences of bad passions. About half an
hour afterwards his thoughts were interrupted
by hearing the report of rifle on the oppo-
site bank OF the river. Looking through The
bushes he saw his neighbor, Major Nut,er
standing among some willows, loading his
rifle. He seemed to be gazing anxiousIv At
some object on the same bank with Ankera
further up the stream.
"He has shot something" thought Dick
Now the stream was not deep, nor was it very
broad; butit had a miry bed like all the
streams which flow through the rich, dark soil
it was impossible for the Maj. to cross without
going TO bridge about half mile up the
river, and he saw him depart rapidly in that
direction; he emerged from the bushes where he
had lain concealed, and moved forward to see
what the Mojor had killed.
1t was prairie wolf. He lay dead on the
edge of the thicket.
1t struck Dick as a rather singular coinci-
dence, that he was shot in the head, directly
between the eyes, like poor Tiger. 1t also aD-
peared to Dick that the wolf flooked very much
like the dog, and he wondered if the Major
could have tinguished them from each otner
across the river.
While pondering these matters in his philo-
sophie mind, Dck-without rejecting what
he was about, uppose-dragged Tiger to
the spot, and laid him down by the side his
wild brother. Dick also cast his eyes up and
down the stream. AT length Dicks mind be-
came confused, and on leaving the spot he
somehow committed an unaccountable blum.
der. La short, Dick left Tiger where he had
found the wolf, and dragged the wolf away
1t was singular mistake, and l can't ex-
plain it.
With great care Dick concealed the wolf in
some bushes, and taking circuit through the
woods came ap with Major Nutier, shortly
after the latter had crossed the river.
"Halio! Major! where are you going SO
fast?"
"Ha! is tha, you Dick!" cried the Major,
looking around.
"What's your hurry7 Pm going down the
river, but can't run to keep up with you.''
"Oh! I'm in no great hurry; only Eve shot
wolf down here"
".Ah! the devil you have!''
Dicks memory failed him.
Fired across the river" said the Major
"Droppedlike log"
"Just so. Glad to hear it. Wait minute
and I'll go with you"
And Dick began to whistle.
"Im calling my dog. The cur is ALWAYS
running off. Never can keep him near me.'
The Major expressed his sympathy-then
Dick whistled again, and calling at the top of
his voice, but Tiger, although he was within
hearing did not see fit to come; and in a min.
ute, his master accompanied the Major along
the bank of the river.
"rhat cussed dog" complained Dick. 81
wouldn't take twenty dollars for him, if he
wouldn't ramble off SO far"
81 had the incest shot in the world Mt the
wolf," said the Major. IL hid on the opposite
showed his mussle-pop! down he went"
"Just So" assented Ankers.
As they approached the spot where the wolf
had been shot, Dick fell behind.
"Hurrah!" cried the Major, gaily. "There
he lies! swear he hasn't stirredf from the spot
where he stood. 1t was good shot Isay-
It's at least fifteen rods to where l stood; and
aimed right between his eyes. By Jonas"
The Major had approached near enough to
recognize Tiger! His countenance suddenly
changed from an expression of triumph and
gaiety TO one of modification and surprise
most ludicrous!
Dick, as we have seen was very absentmind
ed. Although he glanced at the Major from
beneath his eyebrows, he did not appear to OBJ
serve the singu.s change in his countenance.
"Twas good shot," he said, in an enthusi-
astic tone. You're lucky to-day Major. The
bounty, and the price of the skin, will make
quite pi e.
"By jonas" replied the astonsned Major,
in a voice that seemed to come all the way up
from his boots-it was so deep and expressive.
"By Jonas!"
"Why, Major, you make as much fuss over
itas if it was an elephant
"But-look! never made such blunder
before in my life! It's-it's-a dog -
my dog!" thundered Dick. feigning great
amqz ement. "Tiger-tbat I've been whist
ling for, for the last half hour! How could
you make such mistake Major! How
could you shoot q dog for wolf! my dog.
too, that don't look any more like wolf than
a cow does like hippopoiamus? swear,
Major, you are certainly crazy!"
"See here, Dick" said the Major, with
face glowing like great coal, 'it's thunder
ing mistake, know-never seen dog look
SO much like wolf-could have sworn it was
a wolf! Now, Dick, don't tell Of this! !
should never hear the last Of it. if the people
found it out. Shoot dog for wolf! By
Jonas! own the blunder, and agree TO pay
you round price for your dog, provided you
won't tell it,
"it isn't the vally of the dog | think SO
much about" mutlered Dick, looking mourn-
fully at Tiger! "But | have had him SO
long, and SET by him SO consumediy! Poor
Tiger! But i won't be hard on You Major,
seeing lisa mistake, and YOU'RE willing TO
do what's right about it. I'll say five dollars
and num-
"very WE'LL" said the Major, with long
breath. Il don't happen TO have the tin in my
trousers, but I'll get it for you in few
days"
Alter some conversation, the Major left
Dick alone with Tiger, whom he said il was
his intention TO skin.
An hour after, Dick had not only skinned
Tiger, but remembering something about the
woif he had also peeled the hide oil from him.