The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-02-23
Albsat gt0istet,
FINGAL;
OR, MURDER WILL. OUT.

Not McPhersOn's hero of that name,
but Thomas Campbell's Fingal--or,
rather. he who was Thomas Campbell.
Fingal was a dog; an excellent one !;
professionally, the best in the neigh
borlloOd. At an early age, in obedi-
ence 10 instincts descended through a
long line Of collies. hr commenced the
duties Of shepherds assistant in the
service of his friend and master, then
chief shepherd on the broad acres of
the Duke Of Athol. For five years,
dating from the opening Of our story,
he had discharged the duties Of his
office with dog-like fidelity, and great
" more than even colly's intelli-
gence.
a large, strong butte was Fingai !;
being quite "a mitch the superior in
strength to those of his breed as he was
their master in sagacity. Bit chiefly
was he remarkable for his mental
qualities. Lie was a very wise dog.
Indeed, so undeniable were his claims
TO what is understood by the metaphv-
sician AS reason" that, throughout
the entire county side, it was said of
him, ''He can do everything that's
needed of him but speak,"
Now, what am going to relate of
Fing-as for short he was called-may
be regarded as truth or not, just as the
reader pleases. | say this because the
relation | am about to make regarding
him is truly marvellous, and therefore
calculated to raise doubt.
Fing's nlastcr-by one Of those pleas
ing dispensations which tend 50 much
to rob death Of Its terror to their sur
yivors--liad fallen heir to q few hun
dred pounds; and being a man of
much energy Of character, he adopted
the more remunerative business of
drover, purchasing beeves and sheep,
and disposing Of them at fairs. For
three years Thomas Campbell pursued
his risky, wandering profession, each
year adding to his importance as a
dealer in stock. On all his trips, Fling,
of course, was his neyer-failing COM
paniOn.
Thomas Campbell was bachelor,
and lived with his brother Duncan, on
farm which they had bought between
them. The place was known as Craig
burn. Duncan was the elder of the
two sons; was married and had fam
lily, the oldest being almost 4 full
grown man.
In those days, facilities in bank ex-
changes were not as they now are 30
that persons going to remote places in
the country took whatever cash they
might have along with them in
gold; thus slbjecting themselves to
the risks ofrobbery and probable muir
der.
Mr.. Campbell, in his last trip, had
doubled the number of the largest herd
lie had yet taken. An eager market
awaited him at Falkirk fair, where his
well-known manly character and fair
dealing had made him a desirable party
to a business transaction. Disposing
OF his stock to much advantage, he
started for home. He Travelled. as was
usual in those days, on horseback, car
rying his portmantau behind his saddle.
But Thomas Campbell never reached
his home.
What became of him. no one knew.
Tie country was searched; but not tie
slightest trace could be found of the
drover or his dog. The horse, too,
was missing. If blood had been split,
the sharp, drenching rains of late au-
tumn had washed it all away. Being
well-known all along the route, lie
could be tracked to within ten miles of
Craigburn. There, mystery enyeloped
his fate in thrice-fold darkness.
His brother had offered q reward Of
five hundred pounds for the discovery
ofhis body should he be found dead !:
and if it appeared that he had been
murdered, he promised the remaining
part Of Th0mas's fortune, including
his share Of the farm, for the appre-
hension Of the murderer. To this lat
ter clause the Duke added two hundred
pounds from his private purse.
Nearly week had passed from the
date when the drover and dog were
last seen; and Sabbath morning found
the afflicted Gampbells still mourning
oyer the fate of their lost relative. The
morning family services had passed,
and Duncan went out to ponder over
the terrible dispensation that had
stricken the strong man down in his
strength, and deprived him OF broth.
or. lie had barely passed the outer
door when he observed an animal
slowly crawling up the lane leading to
the house.
''Yyhat can it be?" said he.
AT first 1t struck him that It was
stealing along 10 pouncc upon some
stray domestic fowl. But, on more
closely watching its motions. he saw
that its frequent stops suggested ex.
liaustiOn rather than caution that it,
movements partook too much of feeble
ncaa to be beast Of pFey--a volt, for
instance, or q Iarge-sized badger. Call
ing to bis son Donald, who stood at the
window, to come out, they approached
the strange looking animal together.
It had stopped, aud lay as If incapable
OF dragging itself an inch farther; and
seeing them, it uttered low, pIaintive
whine, ind slightly moved its tail.
''0h, father, it's Fingall" |" cried the
son, as he started with all speed toward
the wretched brute.
True enough, it was Fling; but so
cmaciated by hunger and bodily suffer
ing as to be hardly recognizable.
Raising the dog carefully up between
them, in q few minutes more he lay
upon sofa mat in room adjoining
tile kitchen. Donald, weeping like d
boy, sat down beside him, and raising
the battered head on hts leg, placed
close to his muzzle o small pan Of milk,
which he greedily but painfully lapped.
There was not a dry eye In the fam
iIy; each of the household from the
I.cude mans to the farm servants, con-
doling with the skinny, rnaimed ami
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