The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1865-01-05
CARLO.


decline in the west, three school fellows
we're wandering through the forest paths
which lOd 10 their homes, They lived
10 section OF the country which has
not even yet been cleared sad settled by
the advancing step Of civilization, and
which, at the time Of my story, was of
ten the haunt ofsome wild animals, who
were ct least match for an unarmed
and unprotected man, The boys, how.
ever, we're evidently under no uppro-
hepsion from danger Of this kind, and
they laughed, ran. and.shouied withthe
full geyeiy Of high animal spirits, un'
darkened by any of the every day ills Of
life.
Allast they came to a moss.covered
rock, BY the side of shallow run Of
water, and they sat down at the base of
a rock to rest themselves fora few mo-
men;s, The place where they stopped
presented scene which may be often
witnessed in our American forests. The
tail trees, swung their branches over
them, and though m opening OF vista
on one side the eye might roam over tho
distant hills, which yelled the horizon
from the view,
While the thee young companions
were sporting beneath the shadow of the
rock, a slight noise was heard in the
bushes, and the next moment their IA
voriie playmate, Carlo, bounded into
the midst ofthem. Carlo was a dog Of
Of the spaniel breed. and it was his de
lightto traverse the woods with the
boys Of bis masters family. His com
ing was now welcomed by all with cares
ses nnd words of endearmeut But he
had not lawned upon Them long, ere he
started up in evident agitation, aud be-
gan to bark furouSly. Tho boys, sup
posing tina: he had merely seen rabbit
or a squirrel, dill not take much notice
of his noise; bat at last, looking in the
direction Of the sounds, they hohcld a
panther crouchiug upon the ground aud
gsrins on them ia way that was any.
thing but polite or agreeable. They at
! once ceased from their sports, and Hen
ry dropped the straw with which he hal
Just bsen attempting to tickle Charley's
ear. They rose up, and scrambled
acros the.brook in tie direction of their
hemcs.
In the meantime Carlo was barking
with uotiminishod energy at the unwel.
come intruder The panther bounded
over him in The direction. Of the retreat
boys. But TIE dog instantly got before
him again, anl stood bodily opposed
The wild enemy, as il amazed at the
baudacity Of creature so inferior in size
and strength, crouched upon the ground
as if meditating how TO act. The re-.
suit Of his meditation evidently was TO
crush bis yelping an'asonis; at once, for
he made p tremendous bound in tho di.
rection OF the dog; bu. the latter by dex.
teriously running forward at the moment
avoided the clutches of his powerful an
lagonist. Once more did the brave liz
lie Carlo place himself in front Of the
infuriatod panther, who bounded upon
him more suddenly than before
The dog escaped with a slight wound
in his ear, AMI again opposed himself to
his bailled enemy. In this manner Car
10 kept retreating, till shot from an ex
perienced woodsman went through the
heart Of the panther
The boys escaped 10 their homes,
somewhat frightened, but safe and
sound. Carlo soou joined them, and
seemed fully to enjoy and understand
the praises and carosses which were Law
ishod upon him. His wound was prop
erly taken care Of, bu! scar remained,
which wns always visible. Whenever
the story Of his bold resistance to tho
ponthor was related, Cnrlo would rise
up, wug his tail, and place his head up,
on his mnster's knee, SO that he might
point out the place where he was woun,
ded No old veteran Of the revolution
could be prouder ofhis wooden leg than
vas Carlo of the scar, which re-.