Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-22
AFIS7HERMAN,S STORY
Angling for II Dog.

We were travelling on ground we had no
right on. The only excuse was like that of
military necessi,y-it was far better fish
ing through the farms where the trout had
been preserved, than in open lots where ali
could fish.
1t was early in the porning. We had
risen at three, ridden ten miles and struck
the creek as the trout were ready for break
fast. Looking carefully for sheltered place
to hitch our horses, we slyly crept on behind
fences, ETC., till we reached the part Of the
stream not generally fished. A farm house
stood net quarter of a mile away. We
saw the morning smoke curling lightly from
stoveplpe; saw man and two boys come
ont to do chores; saw a woman busy about
the door, and lerocious bulldog wander
ing about the yard.
If ever we fished close i, was then. Not
a whisper to disturb the birds or the owners
of the land. We crawled through the grass
and lodged behind clumps of alders, lifting
large speckled beauties out of the water un-
til our baskets were full.
This was the time to have gone; but the
trout were so large and bit so readily that
we decided TO string and hide what we had,
and take another basketful. So at it we
went. No sooner would the hook touch the
water than it had trout. We forgot the
house, the man, the boys and the dog. Sud-
denly there was a rushing through an oat
field as if mad bull was coming. We look.
ed toward the house, and saw the farmer
and his two sons on a fence, the woman in
the door, and the dog bounding toward us.
We saw it alive had been discovered !
The well-trained dog had been sent to hunt
us out, and, as the matter appeared, it was
SAFE to bet that he was doing that thing
right lively.
To outrun the dog was not to be thought
Of There was no time to lose. He clear
ed fence and came for us just as we
reached tree, and by great activity took q
front seat on limb above his reach. Here
was precious go! A vicious bulldog un-
der The tree, and the farmer and his two big
boys ready to move down upon our works.
II was fight, foot-race, or fangs.
The farmer yelled to his dog, "Watch
him, Tige."
lige proposed to do that | tile thing, and
keeping his eyes upon US, seated himself
under the tree.
Then spoke this ugly farmer man: "Just
hold on thar, stranger, till we get breakfast !;
then we will come and see you! If you are
in a hurry, he wever, you can 60 now !!
Watch him, Tige!'
We surmised trouble; quite TOO much,
for thrice had that bold man of bulldogs
and agriculture elegantly wolloped innocent
tourists for being seen on his suburban
premises. His reputation as a peace man
was not good and there arose large heart
toward our throat.
Time is the essence Of contracts, and the
saving ordinance of those in trouble. We
had stout line in our pocket, aud large
hook intended for rock bass, If we failed to
take trout And as good luck would have
it we had got nice sandwich and a piece
of boiled corn beef in our other pocket.
We called the dog pet names, but he
wasn't on It'll Then we tried to move down,
when he moved up! At last we trebled our
bass line, fastened the limerick to 1t, baited
it with the corn bees, tied the end Of the
line to limb, and angled for dog!
Tge was in appetite. He swallowed it,
and sat with his eyes on us for more; but
with no friendly look beaming from his
countenance. Not any!
Then he pulled gently on the line-it was
fast! Tige yanked and pulled, but twas Of
no use!
We quickly slid down the tree-almosl
blistering our back doing it-seized ou,
pole, and straightway went thence some
what lively.
We found our string of fish, and reached
the buggy and n commanding spot in the
road in time to see the sturdy yeoman move
| forth.
We saw him and his cohorts, male, and
female, move slowly, as if in no haste. W.
saw them lock up tue tree. We saw at