Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-23

|
Man,
Continued from yesterday
In week from that time was in Jack
ass Gully. on the very spot where had
last seen Dutch Louis and 10 the Tinman,
together. The old tent was there, very
ragged and dirty, but the man who lived
in it did not know anything about my
mate. ! was pretty hard up at that time,
and prospected about in some of the old
spots, which were not rich enough for US
when we first went there. | went down
the hole we sunk when we had got so
much gold, and, as luck would have it, |
did find little bit of the golden gutter
which we had neglected to take away,
and out of that bit of earth-not four
bucketsful altogether washed ten ounce
of gold. That was sufficient for me lust
then, and, blessing my stars, | started OF
the next morning in the direction that
Dutch Louis and 10 the Tinman had taken
when they went to look for the surface
gold hundred miles away.
On the afternoon of the first day was
standing at the opening of two tracks, one
to the right, one to she left, puzzled which
to take. had made up my mind to take
the one that was most trodden, and had
walked along it a dozen yards, when |
felt Lion pulling at the chain which had
put about his neck. didn't take much no.
tice of him at first, but when his tugging
| got inconvenient, and when | heard him
whining as If in trouble, turned to see
what was the matter. | had no sooner
done so than Lion jerked the chain clean
out of my hand, and ran 10 the other
track, where he stood looking at me
and waggng his old tail. Now, that
made me consider what could be the rea-
sons of Lions anxiety, and why he didn't
seem Inclined TO follow me.
"And strike me dead i(excaimed Boz
kee, so excitedly that he made my blood
jump through my veins), if it didn't come
upon me like sudden daylight, that the
dog knew the road my two mates had tax
en-; knew that wanted to take the same
track and wanted to lead me to where l
could find some clue. There's more in dogs
than we know of. mate. They can't speak
our language, but they have got almost
as much sense as we have. They are bet
ter than us, too, for they never forget"
When that dog stood upon the track /
had left and looked back at me, made up
my mind that he could take me to every
spot where 10 the Tinman, and Dutch
Louis had passed in their prospecting tour,
and made up my mind too, to let him
lead me where he liked. So.walking up
to him. | stopped and patted the faithful
beasts head and holding the chain loosely.
followed at his heels. He was wiser than
a human creature; he never hes-
tated moment. Sometimes we came
upon three or four tracks, leading differ
ent ways, but Lion always took one of
them without hesitation. On the second
day we came to large tent, with few
bottles of ginger-beer upon a bench out
side. There Lion made dead stand. |
didn't lug at his chain, but going into the
tent, asked the owner If he had anything
stronger than gnger-beer
After looking at me for moment to see
if | was a detective-for it was a sly grog
shanty, and the detectives We're down
upon those shops for selling spirits with
out license-the man seemed satisfied
that | wasn't an informer, and he served
me glass of gin, and took one himself
at my invitation. When l paid for the
drink. he came to the door and saw Lion.
Il seen that dog before, mate, he said.
Long agoPn | asked, in an easy tone,
although my heart was beating very fast.
"A matter of more than o year ago,
dare say, :" he answered.
| - mere were TWO Iutn WIN nlm tnen,
mate" ventured to say, in careless
maner, and pretending to do something to
the dogs collar.
Yes" he said, "but you wasn't one of
EN-"
NO, | wasn't" | said, "good-day,
mate"
And walked away, only for dozen
yards, though, for turning around to
where the man was standing looking AT
ter us, said:
Did you see them when they came
| back, mate P'
81 saw one of EN- he said.
Ny back felt as it bucket of ice-wa-
ter had been poured down it, as asked
(Which one ?'
lie laughed and looked at me queerly
as if he thought had tile loose.
"lIow should | know which one P'' he
| answered
1.-The dog was with him." remarked
-"les,' he said, looking at Lion, "the
dog was with him-al bloody AS though
he had been badly beaten
That was enough. | bade him good
day again. and walked away When we
were out of sight of the tent. threw my
self on the ground, and Lion stretched
uilnSCll bCiOiC NhlouiuS ult WIFI his
boodshot eyes.
Two of them went this way, Lion" |
said. land only one of them came back
which one, good dog, eh which one ?
10 the Tinman. or Dutch Louis ?"
Lion wagged his tail in the dust, as
much as to say, 81 could tell you if |
could speak, but you ought to know with
out my telling"
Il do know" said, Just as if Lion had
spoken the words. "If it had been 10
the Tinman. who brought you back, you
wouldn't have been all bloody. Your old
governor never gave you blow; he had
no need to. You knew every note in his
voice, didn't you, Lion and you. were
too glad to obey when he spoke. II was
Dutch Louis who brought you back. and
who beat you into submission. Then
where did you leave your old governor