Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-05
Gales and Skttftts.
ASSExED BIT THE rs.R.
Continued from yesterday. )


it was followed bv a doubt as to whether
she should ever again dare to come down
TO the cove.
Il must sketch the island,'' she said.
'.but I will come in the forenoon
The three men were walking abreast.
now. and they were plainly determined
not to turn to the right hand or the left for
Prrcie Lee, She had Jus. time to grasp
that terrible idea and to feel her heart
jump. when one of them actually spoke
to her.
Sne never knew what he said. and her
only reply, as she retreated few steps,
was an altogether unin,ended little scream.
| II was not loud one. and there was
more surprise in it than lear. but it was
| followed BY remarkable consequences
Tsar had auickeLed his lordlv pace, full
20 seconds earlier and. for some reason
OF his own. he had advanced II little I'M
der the shadow Of the fence; but his eyes
had not wondered from the human beings
in the road before him. His head and
tail were raised trifle, and there was
very peculiar expression on his broad,
hairy face. There was no love of tramps
in it at all.
.'Oh now, we hain't hurt you. You
needn't squall.'
| That was what the second Of those
three ruffians began to say. when an aw-
full. wratnfuI. roaring growl. as of warn
ing. sounded from some deep jawed
cavern among the shadows a. the right
uf Percie Lee. 1t was followed, in one
long, elastic, power-expressing bound. by
huge dark form that in one second was
crouching in front of her.
The first and second tramp upset the
third, and tumbled over him, so sudden
was the retreat they made. while Tsar,
for their special benefit and more at length
repeated his growl. with supplementary
snarl that sounded fearfullv like the an
nouncement Of another spring forward.
The remarks made by all of those vag-
abonds, as they scrambled to their feet,
were in a manner complimentary 10 Tsar,
although not intended to be SO.
| Percie Lee stood behind her protector,
and she could not see, rs they did, the
white rows of cleaning teeth and the
fierce green light in the threatening eyes.
She could perfectly understand, however,
that there was an enormous amount OF
very good dog between her and any fur
Their approach of rufiiamly insoence. She
was almost astonished at the sudden feel
ing of security which came upon her and
! at the entire ease with which she began
to breath again.
| Tsar did not spring He did but crouch
| in that picturesque attitude until the near
est tramp was 80 yards away, on steady
run: and then he stood erect, sending al
ter his enemies one deep, sonOrous
| Wool oof.'' to keep them company.
Good dog good fellow!'
"U-r-r-r," was The gentle response of
Tsar, and lie even wagged his tail. moder
ately, but he did not condescend to look
around. He walked slowly on up the
road. and 1t was now Percie'S turn to fol
low him.
II do net think had better leave her."
said Tsar to himself; mot even when we
get to our house
1t was not until they had reached the
turn of the road, away beyond DIR. Cor
hams. that he at last stood still. Percie
wished very much to pat him, but she
could hardly muster courage. and while
he was hesitating there came sound of
wheels. and light buggy pulled up in
the middle of the road
"Dr. Gorham"'
"Percie Lee. Is that You? | declare!
Miss Leland that great brute-it's all
my laut. Did he scare you much. Percie
| Miss Lee?'
lis it your dog, Heber-doctor?"
.'T>ar! Come here. sir!''
"Oh doctor, don't scold him. He has
been taking care OF me. There were
three of them"
Dogs. Miss Lee?''
Mo. sir, tramps. Dreadful docking
they spoke-he is splendid dog,-beau-
tful"
"IIe? All. well-it's good thing he
didn't take hold of one of them, There'd
been find surgical case prepared for me-
in no time. But how did he happen to be
out? UnmuZzled, too, | remember now.
All my FAULT
| IL guess he must have been left out to
take care of me. doctor"
| "Ain't glad of it though? Now. Miss
Lee, you must step right into my buggy.
and let me carry you home. Tsar, go
home, sir,'
He turned TO obey. but a small, white
hand was on his head as he did 80.
Good dog, Tsar thank you. sir.''
| 1t was odd. indeed. but something in
that remark seemed aimed at the dog; and
it must have hit him. too. by the proud
| way VI MS WaikinS Oh, OUT Soine Oh III
went further. The young physician as
sisted Percie into the buggy aud drove
away; and it was quite distance around
the corner OF the main road that they
passed II dimly discernible ard quite
breathless group that leaned against a
fence. Nobody going by in bug
gy could have heard them mutter-
Tell ye what. boys, that was the awful
est dog ever seen"
Guess we won't try that road agin to-
night. He's loose"
"All them sort o dogs has got to be
killed off. or the roads won't be safe.''
Perhaps, but at that moment Tsar was
reentering his own yard. for he Went
straight back to his own quarters. He
stood for moment turning over his empty
muzzle with his paw and then lay heavily
down. He thought he understood the
entire matter now.
'Heber Gorham knew that that young
lady would be in need of me. It's ali
right. but doubt if did my whole duty.
Unmuzzled. too A lost opportunity
As TO the tramps, yes. but not as to ali
other parts oil his performance. He never
knew how it afterwards came to pass. bu,
before long he discovered that he hat!
formed a habit of going down to the cove