The daily gazette., 1877-03-14
SAVED BY A DOG.
BY PAUL PLUME.

LHc Sdhauidii. OOIIlc OI tilo DOyS uau
been over to the Indian farm, and pur-
chased chickens and eggs, and we were
dining beside the camp fire, when one of
the dogs ran between Dan Slocum's legs,
and he attempted to kick him; but was
prevented by old Sam Perkins, who put
forth his hand, saying, ssNever abuse
dog in my presence, Danny"
There was something so earnest in the
old trapper's tone that we could not re-
frain looking at him in surprise Slocum
gazed at him curiously as he replied, 81
wouldn't have hurt your dog, Sammy" )"
81 didn't make the remark because it
was my dog" continued Perkins. 81
don't like to see any dog cuffed. If it
hadn't been for dog wouldn't be here
to-day, and make it my business to aid
them in every way can, for at best Their
life is hard one."
We felt like hearing a story, and knew
that old Perkins might be relied on for
anything he related, so 1 said, sLet us
hear how it happened, Sammy. I'm sure
all the boys will be glad to listen to
you"
"Certainly, certainly" they cried in
chorus diets have the yarn, old man."
aWell, if you are mind to hear it."
said the old man "but perhaps you may
not think it much of story after all ; but
it actually did happen 10 me, boys, as the
limp in my gait can testify to this day.
"It was in the winter of 40. Some of
you possibly remember how rough the
latter part of it was. We had pretty
mild weather up to the middle of Janu-
ary, and then the snew commenced in
good earnest. There was party Of us
on the James, when one morning l
shouldered my rife, and taking my dog
Hark, started away Tor the Sierra Rayada,
as got sight Of some antelopes run
ming up the mountain path. If any of
you boys have been over the ground, you
remember there's some ugly places to
cross, and particularly dangerous when
there is much snow. But didn't think
of this at the time. Old Hark was Ca
vorting about me in high glee, first run
ming ahead and diving into the snow, and
then bounding back and shaking his
shaggy coat until he threw the snow clear
over his head.
"What ails you, old boy?" l cried as he
stood in my path and yelled like mad.
what ails you, you old fool? Shut up now
and behave yourself.
"When l gave him this reproof he
dashed ahead again, but he didn't yelp.
He had something serious on his mind
| then, but didn't know it. Suddenly L
heard an antelope, and sprang forward to
get a shot, but the creature almost in
stantly disappeared. In my excitement
l never looked to the right or left, but
hastily jumped across chasm few yards
wide upon ledge of snow opposite. The
outer part of this was, alas! only ofsnow;
it was frozen hard, but as Isprang upon
il withforce, felt it giving was beneath
me. The fellow who says he never felt
fear was never in a situation. like mine.
An agony of terror rushed through my
frame, and made my kGess shake. My
first impulse was to spring forward and
reach the firm ground. But every effort
made to save myself seemed to accele-
rate my fate. The mass broke short of,
and fell.
81 subsequently visited the spot, and
standing in safety on its brink, my nerves
have shivered as | looked down the awful
sides of the canon. How escaped being
dashed into atoms it is impossible to con-
lecture. The hight was upward OF ninety
feet, and there was no projecting rock or
| tree TO Dreak my ldlls DuI thO ohoW
which fell along with me crumbled as it
fell, and so served to protect me.
"When preceived my footing yield
from under me, my heart seemed to spring
to my throat. 1t appeared to choke me,
as it gave one grasp of mortal agony. l
stretched forth my hands and grasping the
empty air, all consciousness forsook me.
A crash like thunder was in my ears, my
eyes were filled with snow. and pitching
headlong into the abyss, remembered
nothing more.
.sWhen recovered my senses night was
coming on apace, and l lay enveloped in
snow, with broken leg and arm. tried
to rise, and found it impossible, and the
pain in my limbs was intense. My faith
| full dog was stretched upon me as if to
protect me from the bitter cold. Poor
fellow, he is dead long since.
.Hark 1 cried 'old boy,we are in tight
fix. What's to be done"
"He looked into my face and whined
as if to say, suppose we mustgo un'
der
u "rhe wind began to blow freely