South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-11-24
more the cry for help when the dogs
leabed up and howled. tE .

\
more the cry for help, when the Cog
leaped up and howled. -s
i "fNo black feller bout here,' said tn
gentleman in our company when, follow
ing his example, we set off at run in th
direction Of the cries, the black far out
stripping US, though We kept him well i
I view till he disappeared behind som
rocks |; but only to turn back directly an
to come running towards us, shouting
Ole man got hinl-cle man got him
"We pressed on, painting heavily, an
in few moments were in full view of tn
strangest sight I ever saw in my life-on
which seemed to qdite paralyze the ma
with the dogs, for he stopped short, bold
ing tightly by the leash, in spite of tn
angry struggles of the animals and hi
masters anguished cries for help. There
some fifty yards IN frsnt, was a fierc
struggle going on ! pParently a vain on
on the part of my host, who was tight,
clasped round the waist by tremendou
great kangaroo. such as we settlers call Al
'old man."
"Right!' growled the sea CAPITALS
while the thin mans eyes twinkled mali
ciously.
at wa. in e bGshy part, and from tn
branch he held in his hand it was eviden
that my friend had been clinging with al
his might to some tree or other, SO as t,
hinder his enemy, or else Pm afraid W,
should have come too late.
Dropping the branch, he now begal
kicking and struggling with the energy O
despair, striking fiercely at the beas
with his fists, and doing all that he coulC
to get away; but there is no doubt that
If we had not come up, the next minut,
would have been his last; for, in spite of hi:
struggles, the old man kept on slowly,
hop-hep-hop; nearer ard nearer to 4
great water-hole; and though a strong
and hearty man, my friend seemed like a
child in his enemy's grasp.
Loose the dogsl' shouted to the
convict servant, but utterly confused, he
only held on tightly, letting the faithful
beasts drag him along with them till, with
one cut of his knife that he had held ready
to skin the dead kangaroo, the black sew
cred the leaden throng, and coupled as
they were, the dogs dashed down upon the
sold man.
"Tben came fierce hurrying rush and
a scramble-a frightful howl-and one dog
turned over on its back, disabled by a
kick, and then halfstrangled by being
dragged about by its companion, who had
made good his hold upon the kangaroo's
throat The dog shook fiercoly till, in its
agony, the beast loosed its hold upon my
friend, who fell down exhausted Just upon
the edge Of the water-hole, as the dogs
and their enemy rolled from the bank into
the deep water, which directly after was
lashed into muddy foam by the fierce
struggle going ON.
at would have gone hard with the
poor dog if just then the leash had not
given way, leaving him free from the
weight of his fellows carcase hung to his
neck; and now, in spite of the fierce tear
ing and kicking Of the old man, he held
on tightly to the place in his throat where
be bad first fixed his steel-strap jaws By
degrees they struggled into shallower
water, and so exciting was the battle that
my friend forgot his late peril, and sat up.
painting, to see the end.
Suddenly, with one of his tremendous
leaps the kangaroo bounded right out.
cleaning the bank, and alighting amongst
some low scrub at the lower end. But
the dog still held on; and, dodging about
till he could get a chance, the black brought
down his club with tremendous effect upon
the old mans head, when the poor brute
luivered slightly and rolled over, dead;
huge fello~, who had stood up over six
Ieet high.
"' That was a narrow escape said, as
helped my friend to his legs, while the
convict drew out of the water the carcase
If the other dog.
"'Yes,' he said; let's get back. PTe
lad enough of it for one day. feel quite
lick and i'll. If | had had knife, 1 could
laye got on; but, unarmed, l was as help
ess as a child
i had heard Of such adventures before.
'ut had never seen anything of the kind,
o | said, What do you think the brute
would have doner
a. Done? echoedmy friend. Drowned
ne as dead as that poor dog there. Poor
'rute /! one of the best kangaroo dogs
yer had. An old beastp he exclaimed.
ticking the dead body of the kangaroo
hhiNA heo, 10
'e wondered at. He came upon me all
f sudden-hop-hop- -hop-and before
had recovered from my surprise, he had |
ne tightly round the waist, and then
'egan to hop Away. hardly know how |
cit at first; but when the thought struck
ne that he was making for the water-hole,
he feeling was awful, and my struggles
id hinder him bit.'
"'A good thing too replied. Then
re only came up just in time2
"tOnly just said my friend; and he
)oked whittier than eyer.n
" Now, do you expect us to believe all
hat % broke in the thin man, as he again
linked at the company in general. But
ne settler was busy relighting his cigar,
'hich lad gene out during the narration,
nd he made no reply.
" say, sir" said the thin man again,
do you expect us to believe that your
d kangaroo would have hoped into the
alter hole, and drowned the squatter @
" The gentlemen present can do as they
ease, sir" said the settler with dignity
and l have no doubt but that you will
the same. l leave it entirely to my j
'teners' good sense, for the story is true.n !
I