Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-04-04
ROUser.

l
but one frosty morning when we went ou
to the diggings there he sat, detected and
forlorn, beside Doc Furber's rocker.
"What have l doneP" exclaimed Doc,
striking tragic attitude.
There was shout of laughter, for Ger.
tainly no one had ever seen an uglier dog
Snub nosed, crop eared,one eye white and
the other yellow, his feshless skeleton
covered with a coarse yellow coat-there
he sat, statue like, without taking the
least notice of us, neither raising his eyes
nor wagging his tail. Indeed, the poor
brute had no tail to wag. And in addition
to his long list of misfortunes, he seemed
to have been badly wounded in some
recent conflict for his wounds were still
| bleeding.
LEND me your revolver" said Charley
Hines to Fritz Miller.
mo" said Dutch Fritz, ''dont waste
powder. lays him out nit dis rock"
Davy Blake caught up a shovel, and
would soon have ended the dogs career.
if Hank Howley had not interfered, to the
surprise of all.
In the three months we had picked and
shoveled and rocked and panned together
in the Sky High claim, no one had ever
discovered any softness in Hank Howley.
We had come together, party of five,
from different parts of the world, and
formed partnership to work out rich
mountain claim in the Sierras
We had been strangers to each other
when we consolidated our claims into a
partnership, for purposes of economy in
labor and living. But we soop became
acquainted, and were speedily in possess
sion of all the early "history" desirable
with regard to each other, except that OF
Hank Hawley; he never talked about
himself and seemed 10 resent any curiosi-
ty concerning his personal affairs. He
was rough, reserved, and somewhat
surly; but he was always ready to
take upon himself the hardest and most
unpleasant tasks. His giant frame and
iron muscles seemed made for hard work
and endurance.
The laugh went round as Hank went up
to the ugly brute, patted his head, and
examined bis wounds in what seemed 10
be professional manner.
The dog preserved the utmost indifference
while his case was being discussed never
appearing conscious of u human presence
But when Hanks examination was ended
he licked his hand in a gentle, melancholy
way, and then followed him to the cabin
The cruel wounds were dressed, and the
poor waif was sumptuously regaled with
some bacon rind and three generous flap
Jacks left from tho morning meal.
Old Butte, the camp dog, greeted the
new. conner with n vindictive growl but
Hank babe him "get out!' SO tiercely that
Butte retreated from the cabin, and the
stranger took his place by the camp fire.
The more the miners and Butte abused
the new dog, the more Hank petted him.
He let him steep at his feet in his bunk.
and fed him from his own tin plate One
| Saturday night the air was more piercing
than usual, and Hank Howley INDUCED
in considerable grumbling at himself for
leaving his coat at the head dam, a mile
distant, where we had all been working.
He was sitting on bench wrapped in his
blanket, and smoking a home made man.
zanita pipe, when Fritz exclaimed:
"Hank, vere's de dogP"
"He hasn't been in for supper" sugges.
ted Doc.
"Base, ungrateful pnp!" said Charley
you've seen the last of your coyote
Hank. told you so," added Davy.
"He was cur Of low degree, resumed
Charley. "A high-toned dog like Butte
would never 60 back on his friends in
that manner. Eh. ButteP"
Don't you worry yourself about that
dog" growled Hank, "He aint your
dog. I'll bet four bits he's all right"
None took the bet.
Presently Andy Ance offered TO sell
Hank fine fox. hound.
"l've no use for him." Hank replied.
"Ive got the best dog in the Serras, and
maybe you'll find it out if you live long
enough"
We did.
All day Sunday no pug nosed dog
appeared, and all day running fire Of
jest and comment was kept up about the
vagrant. The neighboring mine s, as
they dropped in to chat and smoke by our
fire, never failed 10 Isay,, "Why, Hank,
where's your dogp" until at last Hanks
temper. never of the best, fairly gave out.
On Monday morning, when we went
back 10 work at the dam, there was the
dog faithfully watching Hanks coat.
All through those bitter nights he had
watched by it, without food or shelter,
not even lying down on it for warmth.
He was shaking as with an ague fit; but
the look he gave Hank seemed to say "
cannot do much for you, my friend, but
have kept your coat SAFE"