The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-10-20
/ DOGS ADVENTURE IN TUNNEL.

snap, my little fox terrier, was the most
affectionate and devoted dog ever remem-
| Der. { mattered not where / went, he was
sure to be close at my heels, and the thicker
the crowd, the closer he kept to them. For
the three years that l lived in London, in all
our wanderings l never once missed him or
had any trouble with him.
As far as possible, dogs are prohibited from
travelling on the underground railway but
as l had constantly to travel by it from
Kings Cross to paddington, and Snaps
habit of keeping close being well known to
the officials, they winked at his accompany
ing me.
On certain afternoon, being, as usual, on
my way to PaddingtOn, ard a train bein
due at Kings Cross, made rush for it, and
reached the platform just as a train was
coming into the station.
Jumping into compartment, looked to
see if the dog was with me, but to my dis
may, as porter slammed the door and the
train began to move, 1 observed Snap on the
platform, running wildly up and down look
ing for me. Suddenly he saw me at the win
dow, but it was too late and as we entered
the darkness of the tunnel, heard him give
despairing bark
1 felt angry with myself for not looking
after him more carefully, and resolved to get
out at the next station and go back for him
But how had he missed me 4? I could not
understand it, for he had never done such a
thing before. Five minutes brought US to
Cover street, and train then due took me
back in another five minutes to where I bad
started from.
Have you seen my dog ?" 1 asked of
porter there who knew me-
Your dog, sir % answered the man. "Oh
yes, to be sure. You left him behind, didn't
you? Well, as the train went into the tun-
mel, saw him jump from tie platform and
follow it"
WHAT I said he wasn't following it
when we reached Cover street"
Wasn't he ? Then I expect he's still in
the tunnel. The train went too fast for him
to keep up with it.
"He'll be run over % l exclaimed, verv
nervous for Snaps safety.
Tell you what, sir. I'll go and get per-
mission. if you like from the inspector 20
take a lantern and see if we can find him."
/ thanked the man, and he started off to
get the necessary permission, which the in
spectOr gave, after saying something about
people having no right to bring dogs into the
station. Together the man and then went
into the tunnel.
The unaccustOmed darkness, to saw moth
ing of the peris of such an expedition, in
spired me with considerable dread and l
kept tight hold of my guides arm. When
we had advanced some two or three hundred
yards along the under ground highway, or
rather Glow" way, the lights of an up-train
became visible. AS it went by and we stood
still for minute, the roar and rattle were
not calculated to dispeI my nervousness.
They were Misunderstanding. Immediate
y it passed, the porter cried out.
Look there, sir-look there he goes -
He was pointing toward the red danger
light at the tail OF the receding train, nd
there. sure enough, was Snap scampering
after it at pace which no one could have
given fox-terrier credit for. 1 began to call
and Whistle as loudly as l could but my
voice was drowned by the kissing whir and
rattle going on. Just then another engine
hove in sight on our line of rails, and we had
rapidly to step back into one of the recesses
or man-holes, as 1 believe they are called.
When this second train had shot past US,
there again, to our astonishment, was Snap
galloping after it. He had not observed US,
of course. We then walked on some little
way further along the tunnel and in a min
ute another up-train passed us, and there
once more the dog was behind it.
" How Ridiculous - cried, " and vet how
painful, to see the poor little beast tearing to
and fro for dear life in this way He will
surely be run over before long,
But the reason was obvious he could not
keep up with the speed of the train, and by
the time it had distanced him, another pro-
badly passed in the opposite direction, when,
confused by the noise and turmoil, he turn
ed Immediately ana pursued that. It seemed
to me simply marvellous that he had escaped
the wheels even so far in these agonizing ef-
forts to find me.
As the lights of the next engine came in
view, resolved to give the last carriage just
time to pass, and then TO rush out, and, if
possible, to intercept my poor pet, for 1 ex-
pected him again to return with that. l was
not mistaken, and as slipped from the man
hole in front of the dog the porter held his
lantern so that its light fell full upon my
form. Snap instantly recognized me. and
with one bound and a Dreathless yelp landed
on my breast, and clasping me tightly round
the neck with his two fore-legs as if they had
been the arms of loving child, he rubbed
his wet nose excitedly against my face. Ter
rified well nigh unto death, gasping and ex-
hausted. and all the time uttering paintve
little wall of delight, he lay almost motion
less in this position for several minutes. while
his affectionate heart beat like small sledge
hammer against mine. This simple but in
tense demonstration of canine devotion, in
the gloomy depths of the under ground, with
only the faint rays of the pOrter's lamp to
illuminate the scene, was very touching
You have got a noble little chap there,
SIR said the man, as he led the way eau
tiously back to the platform. " He was
worth a bit of trouble to find, and no mis-
take.
Quite true, my friend" 1 answered,
/" and I'll take good care for the future to pop
him ander my arm when l travel on the Me-
tropoitan Railway again."
al reckon he won't give you the chance,
sir. d" said the man. =" 1 know a bit about
dogs. and 1 shouldn't wonder if he fights
shy of the stations altogether after this
The man was right. for never since that
dav have / been able to induce Snap 10 come
within wards of the head of the railway sta
tiop stairs. Coax and cajOle him as l will,
he always resists. He looks up at me with
such pitiful expression, as much as to say
u Why. YOU wouldn't risk losing me again,
would YOU ?'' that 1 have at last conceded
nd