Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-03-17
The Pedestrian and the BIOOdhOunds.

Hearing Lord wv. boast that his blood
hounds would track any living thing, by
scent alone, Col. A. wagered hundred
guineas they would not track q man, and
asked Mountioy to win the wager for him,
assuring the startled pedestrian there was
no danger of the dogs catching HIM as they
were slow runners, and he would take care
sufficient start was allowed him; the OBJ
ject being simply TO test their power OF
scent. The trial duly came off over three
miles OF ground round Hampstead Heath.
After the dogs had shifted at Mountioys
legs, he made his way leisurely for half
the course, when the flag was dropped and
the hounds set loose. They tracked their
quarry splcndidly, but were 600 yards be-
hind when Mountjoy reached tho inn at
the end of the course, and shut the door
upon them, outside which they hoWled
their dissatisfaction until removed by their
keeper. DisbelIevers i'm the bloodhound's
scent were still unconvinced, averrIng that
they had sighted the man for part Of tile
journey at least and to settle the point
beyond dispute, another match was made,
TO he run at night, the distance this time
being but a mile and half Unsuspicious
of foul play, Mountjoy went gayly on his
way, but had not accomplished more than
two-thirds of the distance allowed him by
the conditions, when hls hair stood on end.
as the cry of the dogs, hot upon his trail,
reached his ears. They had been pur-
posely slipped before the proper time,
without any warning. ''For one second,
said he, 81 stood stock still, as if / had
been frozen, and then dashed away andran
as had never done before, and have never
since was In perfect training and coli-
dltion, but the cold sweat broke out frem
every pore, and poured down my body,
while my legs seemed like lead, and trem-
bled all over. Still | kept desperately Oh,
while nearer and nearer came the deep
hoarse bay of the hounds as the scent grew
warmer, and they knew they were running
up 10 their prey. / thought L was lost
Those few seconds were like weeks, and 1
wondered whether they would grip me first
by the leg or fly straight at my throat
Luckily, did not lose my head and after
the tirst mad burst / settled down and raced
away at pace which 4 knew would last
the distance but still closer and closer
came TIE horrible cry, that sounded like
my AS<aN1~AA1As 1h1B SAGGA pGA1tACMy
1 put on all the speed | could. AT last /
saw the lights of the lonely little inn, and
my heart rose within me, but at that very
instant the blutes broke out into a fierce
savage yell that told me that they had
sighted me at last. There was small
garden in front of the house, and as / flew
up TO it saw the gate was shut. How |
did il never knew, but, blown and ex-
hausted with terror and the pace as was,
| cleared it, darted throughthe door, which
fortunately stood open, and slamming it 70,
stood with my back against it. The lock
had hardly closed, when bangl bang
against the panels came my terrible pur-
suers; and then they lay down and yelled
savagely at finding themselves banked of
their prey As soon as he felt himself
safe rage took the place of fear, and, seiz-
ing hold of bottle, Mountjoy swore he
would brain Lord W. If he entered the
place, threat he would have fulfilled hsd
not those present got him out of the room
In time to prevent most justihable homicide.