Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-04-29
A Race for Life With Blood
hounds.

Apropos # the death oi " Old Mount
ioy," the pedestri II, q correspondent of
London sporting newspaper, related
story Which he heard from MOnnt-
JOYS own lips. Hearing Lord W. boast
that his hioodbou1ds would track any
living thing, by scent alone, Col. A..
wasered Il huud,el guineas they would
not track man, and asked Mouutjoy to
win the wager for him, assuring the
startled pedestrian there vas no danger
of the dogs catching him, Us they were
slow runners, and he would take care
sufli .ient start was allowed him; the
obi ,ct being simply to test their power
of eceut. The tli.i daily came off over
three miles of ground ronnl Hamp.
stead Heath. After the dogs had shifted
at Mouaiiny's legs. he made his way
lcieurely for half the course, when the
flag was dropped aud the hounds set
loose. They tracked their quarry
spicndilly, but were six hundred yards
bel lad when MOuntipy reached the inn
at he end Of the course and shut tho
door upun them, outside which they
hoWicd their dissatisfaction until re-
movtd hy their keeper.
Di>bclievefs in the hloodhound' s
scent w,rc still uncouvinced, averring
tha. tbeY had sighted the man for part
Of ihe journey At least; AMI % settle
the point beyond dispnte, another
match WAS ma L., to he Tun ct night,
/ the distance this time being hut Il lie
and halt. Ulsusp icious OF foul play.
Mcunijny went gully on his way, but
had noi accomplished more than two
thirds Of the distance allowed him by
/ the conditions when his hair stood Oh
end, as tie cry of the dogs, hot upon
his trail, reached bis ears. They had
purpose!y been slipped before the
proper time, without any warning.
- For one secpnd,' said lie. I" stood
stock still, as if | had been frozen, and
then dashed away and ran, as l had
never done before, and have never done
siaca. / was in perfect training and
condition, but the cold sweat broke out
from every pore and poured down my
body, while MY legs seemed like lead,
and l trembled oil over. Still kept
desperately on, while nearer and nearer
came the deep hoarse bay Of the hounds,
as the scent grew warmer and they knew
they were running up to their prey. l
thought | was lost. Those few seconds
were like weeks, and wondered wheth-
er they would grip me first by the leg
or fly straight at n4y throat. Luckily,
l did not lose my head; and after the
first mad burst settled down and raced
away at pace which knew would
last the distance; but still closer came
the horrible cry, that sounded like my
death knell; and, in sheer desperation,
put on all the speed l could. AT last
i saw the lights of the lonely little inn,
and my heart rose within me; but at
that very instant the brutes broke out
into fierce, savage yell that told me
that they had sighted NE at last. There
was a small garden in front of the house,
and as | flew mp to it | saw the gate was
shut. Hoy | did it never knew; but,
blown and exhausted with terror and the
pace as I was, cleared it, dartel
through the door, which fortunately
stood open, ana slamming it to, stood
with my back against it. The lock had
hardly closed when bang bang! against
the panels camesmy terrible pursuers;
and then they lay down and yelled saw
agely at fiDdings themselves baked of
theig prey"
As soon as he felt himself safe, rage
took the place of fear; and seizing hold
of bottle, Mountjoy swore he would
brain Lord W. if he entered tile place;
threat he would have fulfilled had not
those prssentgot him out of the room
in tine to prevent most justitiable hom-
icile.