Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-03-14
Loet on the Prairie.


il is to keep straight course across
Kansas prairie. Grass from two feet to
two yards high covers mile after mile with
an UNMARRIED sea of green waving pillows.
There are no trees to guide the eye, nc
fence to restrain the steps; but footpaths
come to notice constsntly-trails made by
Indian, buffalo or wolf, and every trail
but the right one may be fatal to the trave
Ter.
A man may be lost half mile from hi:
home; and for q child, Of course, the
prairie is doubly dangerous. 1t is not un-
common In Western Kansas for small chill
dren to wander away from home and nevei
be seen again.
Mr.. Joseph Clements,a neIghbor of mine,
lately from home on the plains Of Kansas,
related the following adventure while IN
search OF lest child, which occurred just
before he left that State
He owned a very large and very vaiu-
able hound, which his two boys, Jack and
Oscar, had named Rowdy, and which was
their constant companion in all their hunt
ing expecit'ors. They had trained him
10 hunt for them, so that oy merely letting
him smell one of the boys garments he
would 20 out and track Its owner at any
distance from the house.
About mile from Mr.. Clements home
was a small board cabin, belonging TO an
industrious German and his wife. MIR.
Clements had sometimes seen hitie yel-
low haired boy playing near the cabin.
One morning, just as the family were ris.
ing from the breakfast-table, the Germans
wife came TO the house in great distress.
"Mein Hanka mein Hanka Is gone
Mem kind ist lost Help me find Hanka!
Ach mein Gott tchild) ist lost" she
cried, over and over.
The family gathered around her and
learned from her broken words that her
little boy had wandered away from the
cabin and was lost. He had been gone
since daybreak, and she had no idea which
way he went. Her husband was sick in
bed. she SAID, and could not help her
search for the child, and SIZE had come to
the neighbors for aid.
MIR. Clements and his boys were, OF
course, eager to help the distracted mother,
but as ste had no idea which direction the
child had taken, they hardly knew what
course TO pursue.
Father, believe Rowdy could fud
him, If he had something of the child's to
smell y said Oscar, eagerly.
81 don't know. He has not been used
to tracking any one but you and Jack.
We can try HIM, though" said Mr..
Clements. Get ready and come with me,
and bring the dog
He told the woman that If she would
take them to her cabin and give them one
Hanka's socks, they would endeayor to
find child. Sac swiftly guided them to
the rude home where her man." us she
said, lay sick.
A wagon, a plow and several farm tools
were scattered around. Inside was scanfy
supply OF household furniture. Near the
door lay small pair of wooden shoes,
which Hanka had kicked of. Rowdy
walked up and began to smell Of the shoes,
which encouraged the boys greatly.
The mother brought out small sock,
and Oscar, taking it for Rowdy to smell.
then pointed OIL over the prairie, saying:
seek him, Rowdy!'
Rowdy smelled the little sock, wagged
his tail, looked wIstfully up in Oscars
face, ran away few steps, then came
back, and squatted down by his masters
side with low whine, as if he wanted to
and could not.
Oscar drew the little sock along the
ground a few feet. Rowdy followed,
smelling and whining. and when Oscar
stopped he ran Un little ways, looking
back TO see if Oscar approved. Seeing
doubt in their faces, he went back, re-
peated the action three or four times, until
1t seemed useless to try and make him
what was wanted, and the
poor mother was growing almost frantic.
Finally Oscar threw the little sock far
from him, and the dog, with glad bound,
rushed after and brought it proudly back,
with head erect, as if he were sure now he
had done what they wished. But at their
looks OF disappointment he dropped his
tai, and slowly started 20 carry the sock
back TO the pace where he had picked 1t
up.
But as he dropped it from his mouth. be
stopped, snuffed the ground, ran this way
and that moment, to catch a warmer
scent, then ran along slowly, with his nose
on the ground, as if deeply interested in
something. They al followed, trembling
with expectation and hope, which might
yet be sadly disappointed; for it might he
only game which Rowdy Lad scented.
But on he went scenting every tuft of
grass or cluster OF prairie flowers, stopping
an instant, now and then, and snufiing
with long, slow breath, as if TO make
more sure Il at he was right. while they
eagerly followed him The mother was
with them, in her excitement and anxiety
continually asking:
'.WIll he fint mein Hankal'
Suddenly the dog stopped, and held his
nose high in the air, snuffing at a tall
weed.
The mother in an instant sprang forward
with cry, and caught small shred OF
calico from the bush, shouting:
''It Is Hanka's dIessl Ii is mein
Hanks 81"
The dog started On. For two long hours
the company followed him eager, hopeful,
anxious. Now the odor of the trail seemed
strong, and the dog sure; now 1t was FAINT,
and he would retrace his steps and search
hitber and thIther for the scent before be
found 1t again.
AT last, striking an cid buffalo trail,
they saw plainly in the dry dust the traci
of child's foot.
.'Tis Hanka's spJr (rsiiG It's Hanka''
sporr! Mem kind mem klncl' screamed
the mother. And again ran, closely fol
lowing the noble, eager dog
Seeming trail over dry dust was nov
difficult for the dog, but he kept on brave
Iy, seeming almost as excited as th'
mother or Oscar, who was wild with de
hight at " hat his favorlte was accomplish
ing.
Down and up the hillocks the track led
until presently Rowdy stopped. Hi
whole manner cesnged. The nose was NJ
longer placed on the ground. With up
raised bead and ouisiretched neck, b
went straight on with fixed, excited gaze
Mr.. Clements and Oscar knew that h
LETT the track because he had scentea th
boy where he lay, but they dared not tel
the mother, least the child should be foun'
dead.
| T. an ,patant IonCer the dog rushe,