The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-10-22
"BEVIS"-A TALE OF A DOG.

= The Lyons diligence was just goin
=. to start from Geneva / climbed O
\ the roof, and chose my place next th
driver; there was still q vacant sea
and the porter called "Monsieur De-
mann ~
! A tall young man, with Germa
). style of countenancc, advanced, holt
ing in his arms large black grey
hound, which he vainly tried to plac
Z on the roof
D "Monsieur," said he, addressin.
l. me, "will you have the kindness t.
take my dog ?"
: Bending over, took hold Of tn,
animal and placed him on the stray
at my feet. ] observed that he wor,
: a handsome silver collar, on whicl
: the following words we're TASTEFUL,
D engraved: "Bevis. I belong to
: Sir Arthur Burnley, given him by
: Miss Clara"
His owner was, therefore, ar Eng
o lishman, yet my fellow-traveler, who
!, hsd now taken his place by my side
: was evidently either a Swiss or @
/, German, and his name was Dermann.
Trifling as was the mystery,i it excited
( my curiosity, and after two or three
hours pleasanG conversation had
established sort of intimacy between
US, ventured to ask my companion
sor an explanation.
at does not surprise me-" he an
swered, ''that this collar should puz
zle you; and / have great pleasure
in telling you the story of its wearer.
Bevis belongs to me, but i. is not
many years since he owned another
master, whose name is on his collar
You will see why he still wears it
Here, Bevis speak to the gentle
man.
The dog raised his head, opened
his bright eyes, and, laying back his
long ears, uttered a sound which
might we'll pass for a salutation.
Mr.. Dermann placed the animals
head on his knees and began to un-
fasten the collar.
Instantly Bevis drew back his
head with a violent jerk, and darted
toward the luggage on the hind part
of the roof. There, growing fierce
ly, he lay down, while his muscles
were 'stiffened, and his eyes glowing
with fury.
"YOu see, Monsieur, how deter
mined he is to guard his collar l
should not like to be the man who
would try to rob him of it. Here,
Bevis,' said he, in soft, caressing
tone, 81 won't touch it again, poor
fellow! Come and make friends -
The greyhound hesitated, still
growing. At length he returned
slowly toward his master, and began
to lick his hands; his muscles grad
ually relaxed, and he trembled like a
leaf. -
"There, boy, there,' said Mr.. Der
mann, caressing him. "We won't do
it again. Lie down, and bo Y-ios.-
The dog nestled between his mas
ter's feet and went to sleep. My fellow
traveller, then turning towards me,
began
81 am q native of Suabia, but I live
in little village of the Sherland, at
the foot of the Grimsel. My father
keeps an inn for the reception of
travellers going to st. Gothard.-I
About two years since there arrived
at our house one evening young
Englishman, with a pale, sad coun-
tenance; he Travelled on foot, and
was followed by large greyhound,
this Bevis, whom you see- He de-
clined taking any refreshments, and
asked to be shown to his sleeping.
room. We gave him one over the
common hall, where we were all
seated around the fire. Presently
we heard him pacing rapidly up and
down from time to time uttering
broken words, addressed, no doubt,
to his dog, for the animal moaned
occasionally, as if replying to and
sympathizing with his master.
SAT length we heard the English
man stop, and apparently striking
the dog a blow, for the poor beast
gave a loud howl Of agony, and seem
ed as if he ran to take refuge under
the bed. Then his master groaned
aloud. Soon afterwards he lay down,
and all was quiet for the night
Early next morning he came down,
looking still more pale than the pre-
vious evening, and having paid for
his lodging, he took his knapsack
and resumed his journey, followed
by the greyhound. who had eaten
nothin g since their arrival, and whose
master seemed to take no further
notice of him than to frown when the
creature ventured to csress him.
"About noon l happened to be
standing at the door. looking toward
the direction which the Englishman
had taken, when l heard howls of
distress, proceeding from a wounded
dog that was dragging himself tow
ards me.
81 ran to him, and recognized the
Englishman's greyhound. His head
was torn, evidently by bullet, and
one of his paws broken. l raised
him in my arms and carried him into
the house. When / crossed the
threshold he made evident efforts 10
escape, so / placed him on the
ground. Then, in spite Ofthe torture
he was suffering, which caused him
to stagger every moment, he stretch
ed himself at the door of the room
where his master had slept, moaning
at-the same time so piteously, that 1
could scarcely help weeping myself.
opened the door, and with great
effort he got into the room, looked
about, and not finding whom he
sought, he fell down motionless.
81 called my father, and perceiving
that the dog was not dead, We gave
him all possible assistance, taking
indeed as much care of him as
though he had been child, so much
did we feel for him. In two months
he was cured, and showed us much
found it impossible,
however, to take off his collar, even
for the purpose of binding up his
wounds As soon as he was able to
walk, he would often 60 toward the
mountain and be absent for hours
The second time this occurred we
followed him. He proceeded as far
as part of the road where a narrow
defile borders precipice there he
continued for long time, smelling
and scratching about. We conjec