Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-05-06

but began to fear that life would no
be in him long. They rolled over anC
over, snarling, yelping, tearing; bu
the dog was getting the worst of it.
"You can hardly imagine my ex
citement as l realized that such wa
the case. l ran towards them will
my gun presented, but their motions
were SO quick and their changes o
petition 80 sudden, that it was almost
impossible to got chance at the vol
without endangering Tige.
II fired, but could not see that the
shot took the least effect. Probably
my care for the dog caused me to miss
the mark. No success of mine, how
ever, could have helped poor Tige
He was too far gone for that. Almost
at the moment of my firing, the vol
left his four footed victim and came
rushing directly upon me. let drive
the other barrel, but that made nc
difference. His eyes looked like Goals
of fire; and / could see the whole o.
his teeth at once, for the lips were
drawn away from the red gums the
entire length of the jaws. He was
very long from head to tail, and taller
than thu tallest dog. Tie hair of his
spine stood up like hedgerow, and
he was covered with blood from hii
encounter.
"If ever my thoughts flew fast, il
was then. | saw not the shadow Of a
chance for life. There, in the snow,
must be torn to pieces by thu. fright
FIJI timber wolf Brief as the time
was, | thought Of home, and wondered
what my wife and babies would dc
without me. At such moment one
sees his position as if it were revealed
by flash Of Lightning. 1t is all i'm
printed upon his brain in an instant
Il sprang a little aside, dubbed my
gun, and swung it around my head
with all the force Of despair. II came
down somewhere upon the wolf. Just
where it hit him ] don t know; but |
do know that the breach broke short
off, and flew fifty feet.
"The blow helped me a little, but
not muoh-a got time to zee th~-r-.
that remained in my hand, and re-
member now with what a sound the
steel barrels came down on that ugly
shape. You will hardly believe me,
but they were fairly bent What
did he care for it Just nothing.
Oh, it was awful-for ! saw that
could do no more.
"In another moment | should have
been down in the snow, with the big
jaws tearing me limb from limb.
II try to think now how it was that
/ first knew there was help at hand
try to remember Just how ! felt and
what l thought, but | cannot. II
seemed as if thunderbolt shot by me;
and then, all at once, realized that
the wolf had other business.
The biggest dog that I had ever
seen had fastened upon the beast, as
much as to say, Take some one Of
your size ! and they were struggling
and tumbling and Juggling together.
The snow was torn up till it almost
buried them, and blood and hair few
on all sides.
1 could do nothing but stand and
look on. Once or twice | thought the
wild creature would be too much for
the tame one. But again the great
dog would put forth all his tremen-
dous strength, and the old wolf would
90 down. Oh, how | wanted to help
that dog How grateful I felt to him !
AT length the enemy weakened. /
could see it. I knew that he had got
more than his match. He turned to
run, but the dog was instantly upon
him. Again they strained and tugged,
tearing up another square rod of snow.
But this time the fight was all one
way. The dog was as active as ever,
while the wolf had lost much Of his
power and courage.
In a minute or two / saw that the
wolf was down for good. He had
given up every attempt to defend him
self, and the dog was tearing at his
throat in way that must soon finish
him.
1t was not till he was quite gone,
however, that his conqueror would lei
him alone. Then, to my surprise, the
dog turned to me, and began pulling
at my coat as if to lead me away.
AT first / resisted, not knowing
what TO make of it; but he pulled me
along in spite Of myself.
Tt occurred to me at length that he
rnnst have some good reason for tbs