The Red Cloud chief., 1877-12-13


bundle of hay, sir" said John, the
coachman. c~onfdentially, ito think a
We should find anybody on such a nigh,
as this! Why. in some places the SNOW
lie a couple o. feet thick, andit goes agin
reason to think that a dumb animal
would havet the sense to come home and
fetch help"
"Bide a wee, bide a wee" says old
Donald. Il dinna ken what your Eng.
lish dugs an do; but a collie. though il
has ma pleased Providence to ri Ie the
creature the power O speech, al do
mony mair things than them that wad
deride it."
Il amt a deridin' of EN-" says John.
Il only say as how if they are so clever
l have never seen it"
"Ye wull, though, ye wull," says old
Donald, as ne hurries forward after
Laddie, who has settled down into
a swinging tr0t, and is taking his way
across the loneliest part of the black
moor.
The cold wind almost cuts us in two,
and whirls the snow into our faces,
nearly binding us. My finger tips are
becoming numbed. icicles are hanging
from my moustache and beard, and my
feet and legs are soaking wet, even
through my shooting boots and stout
leather leggings.
The moon has gone in again, and the
light from the lantern we carry is hard.
ly sufficient to show US the inequalities
in the height of the snow by which we
are guessing our path. 1 begin to wish
l had stayed at home, and to consider
whether l may venture to give up the
search (Which / have undertaken to
please nay wife, for 1 am like John, and
won't believe in Laddie,) when suddenly
l hear a shout in front of me, and see
Donald, who has been keeping close to
Laddie all the time, drop on his knees
and begin digging wildly in the snow
with his hands. We all rush forward.
Laddie has stopped at what appears to
be the foot of a tree, and after whining
for a moment, sits down and watches
for us to do the rest. w t is that
which appears when we have shOveled
away the snow? Is it a bundle of rags?
Is it-Or, alas, wa it a human being?
we raise it carefully and tenderly, and
wrap it in one of the warm blankets
which my wife had thoughtfully pro-
vided us with.
"Brlng me the lantern" 1 say, huskily;
and John holds it over the PROSTATE
form of, not as we might have expected,
some stalwart shepherd of the hills, but
over a poor, wrinkled, ragged old wO-
man. / try to pour a little braudy down
the poor old throat, but the teeth are SO
firmly clenched that l cannot.
"Best get her home as quickly as pos.
sible. sir; the mistress will know better
what to do for her nor we do, if SO be
the poor creature is not past help" says
JOhn,turning ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS all do in
sickness and trouble, to wOman's aid.
So we %imprOvised a sort of hammock
of the blankets, and gently and tenderly
the men prepare to carry their helpless
burden over the snow.
Il am afraid your mistress will be in
bed" l say, as we begin to retrace our
steps.
"Never fear, SIR" says Donald, with a
triumphant glance at John; "the mis-
tress will be up and waitin' for us. She
kens Laddle didnu bring us out in shaw
for naething."
"Ill never say nought about believing
a dawg again." says John, gracefully
striking his colors "Ycu were right
and 1 was wrong, and that's all about it;
but to think there should be such sense
in q animal"
As we reach the avenue gate l dis
pa Oh II of the men for the doctor.
who fortunately lives within a stones
throw of us, and hurry on myself to
prepare my wife for what is coming.
she rum out into the hall to meet me-.
"Well?" she asks eagerly.
I'VE have found a poor old woman,"I
say; "but 1 do not know whether she is
alive or dead"
My wife throws her arms around me
and gives me a great hug.
You will find dry things and a jug of
hot toddy in your dressing room, dear"
she says; and this is all the revenge she
takes for my skepticism.
The poor old woman is taken up stairs,
and placed in a warm bath under my
wife's directions; and before the doctor
arrives she has shown some faint symp-
toms of life-sO my wife sends me word.
DR.. Bruce shakes his head when he sees
her.
Poor old soul" he says; show came
she out on the moor on such a fearful
night? 1 doubt not she has received a
shock which at her age she will not ca.
silly get over"
They managed, however, to force a
few spOonfuls of hot brandy and water
down her throat, and presently a faint
color fickers on her cheek, and her eye.
lids begin to tremble. My wife then
raises her head and makes her swallow
some cordial which Dr. Bruce had
brought with him. and then lays her
back among the soft pillows.
Il think she will rally now" says DR..
Bruce, as her breathing becomes more
audible and regular. "Nourishment
and warmth will do the rest; but she