The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-23
WHAT DID THE DOG SEE /,
n strange Adventure in Ohio WhicI, tho
hesder must Explain for Himself.

| Nesuef must Explain for Himself.
Montague observes "things unknown
are the principal and true snbject oil
impostnre, forasmuch as in the frat place
thelr strangeness lends them credit and
moreover, by not being subjected to our
ordinary discourse they deprive us of the
dn means 70 question and dispute them.''
Inc incident | am shout to relate is
strictly true in all save that I have an.
propriated fictitious name for the par.
ties involved in the narrative.
In the Summer of 1867 was iourney.
ing leisurely through Western Ohio on
horseback, when late one afternoon.
discovered my horse had suddenly be.
come lame in one of his forelegs. Dis.
mounting l made an examination with
the purpose Of discovering the precise
location of the injury, out, failing in
this, fIng the reins over my arm ara
led my poor beast towards the farmhouse
which was near at hand. ! found the
owner, Abel Shelly, seated on the porch
smoking his pipe, with his wife sitting
by engaged in knitting. Introducing
myself and explaining my situation,
inquired if he could accommodate me
with a resting. place until could resume
my journey. He acquiesced at once,
assuring me that was perfectly vel.
coiae, and presenting me to his wife, laid
down his pipe aud began to examine the
feet of my horse.
| II can see nothing at present." he re.
marked, "that indicates the seat of the
injury, but Ill put him in the barn, and
II ne does not improve by tomorrow
we'll determine what is to be DONE"
Leading the animal away, he shortly
returned to the house. In the meantime
| had entered into conversation with
Mrs. Shelly, who was very we'll in
formed person, but judged 57 shs re-
markable pallor Of her face that she was
not in particularly good health. Mr..
Shelly conducted mo to a room, where
having deposited my saddle-bags and
taking refreshing wash, 1,turned to
the porch and WAS soon engaged in an
interesting conversation about crops and
the general topics of the day. l discov.
cred my host to be an unusually bright
and well.read farmer, with certain
seriousness about him that forbade any.
thing like unseemly familiarity and
which was sure to inspire respect in a
considerable degree. He was an Eastern
man by birth, but had been settled in
the West for twenty years. Beyond his
wife he had no family, and it struck me
as being somewhat singular that l saw
no hands about the place save an old
negro, who ,Ses slowly performing some
duty in the cow.yard.
After hearty supper and q smoke
with corncob pipe l went with Mr..
Shelly to the stable to take look at my
horse. In turning al angle of the build.
ing he grasPed ne by the arm and pulled
me quickly aside. His action startled
me for an instant, but the next moment
perceived bis motive. Chained near
the path was one of the mos; immense
and ferocious.looking mastiffs 1 ever
beheld. A magnificent creature TO look
unprepared.
Down, Captain" commanded my
companion, as the dog was in the act Of
springing to his feet. The animal re.
sumed his crouching attitude and Mr..
Shelly went on to say: "That dog is
invaluable to me as a guard. He is
absolutely fearless and will shrink from
no danger, no matter how appalling it
may appear. But his fesoeious nature
compels me to keep him chained during
the day, for I verify believe he would
kill stranger if he encountered HIN in
the place."
"He is certainly q splendid creature"
remarked, looking back. II would
like 20 make friends with him, for have
an innate fondness for dogs"
ar. Shelly siiUok his head, "Don't
try it," he said. II wouldn't have you
approach him under any consideration.
That dog will throw an unruly steer and
hold him 80 securely that he can't RISE
An ordinary man would stand but a
poor chance of getting away from him
alive"
On our way back from the stable we
again passed Captains kennel and
paused to look at him. NJ. Shelly pat
ted his head, while the animal stretched
the length of his chai. 'oward me,
regarding me all the while with look
that seemed to be anything but unfriend.
ly. There seemed to be go honest q
purpose in the brute's eyes that l in.
stinctively put forth my hand and laid
it caressingly on his huge head, when to
the amazement of his master the creature
scts slly licked my hand in token of
entity. / really isaghea at the consrsr-
nation depicted on Mr.. Shelly's couate
nance. 7
"Well," he exclaimed, drawing long
breath, elf had not witnessed the thing
/ never could have believed it. Why
that animal is tiger in disposition and
I never believed him capable of friend.
ship for any but my wife and SELF Old
Reuben, the negro, is terrified when he
comesin the vicinity of that dog. His
demeanor towards you is certainly very
surprising"
1t was the custom of Mr.. Shelly to
loose Captain when they were about
closing the house and retiring and to
chain him up early in- the morning, be.
fore it was likely, thare would be any
callers at the farm. !fhe following morn.
ing arose very early, having passed q
restless night, and finding it impossible
to take morning nap dressed and
went down stairs, seating myself on the
porch. I bad entirely forgotten the fact
that Captain was loose, and as sat in.
haling the fresh air from the pines I was
startled to behold the dog standing by
my side gazing fixedly on my face. For
a moment was undecided how TO act
Retreat was impossible-to show fear
might induce the brute TO fix his fangs
in my throat In an instant. was afraid
to speak, lest strange voice might alter
bis purpose If 1t was pacific I, there.
fore, looked kindly at him and smiled.
Majestically striding up to me he laid
his broad head upon my knee and eau
tiously began to ceress him. During the
operation Mr.. Shelly fortunately ap.
peared upon the scene. He gave quick
glance toward me, and calling the dog,
took him to his kennel and chained him.
Then it was explained to him the cir.