The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-05-31

A loud. snsrliRg bark was suddenly
heard and. looking mp. Rob saw a large
black dog with foaining mouth, leap
ing the fence aud coming towards
them In an instant he seized Bessis's
and Amy's hands. and fairly dragging
them down TO thu river. stepped reso-
lutely into the water. The little girls
lost IN 'ir trust in what Rob did, and
began 10 scream and plunge back
at the touch Of the cold water. Rob
took them By the arms almost roughly
and pulled them in by main force. u
was a severe straiR for him, and his
face whitened and every muscle in legs
and arms was rigid with the effort.
But he never let go his hold, dragging
with all his might until he reached the
middle Of the river. The girls were
now sObhing with fright and elinging
10 him in turn. afraid to stir. afraid
even to look at the water. All the
while the dog was running up and
down the hank. snarling and bowling
fiercely at them. while the foam
dropped from his mouth in horrid white
patches. The current was quite swift
but Rob knew his ground. Just
along under the tree was sand bar
which ran out well into the stream, on
which his brother hsd taught him to
swim and where he had often been. Il
would have been easy % stand there
alone, but with two crying. frightened
children it was quite another matter TO
keep his footing in the current.
although the water was scarcely up TO
bis waist.
20 Bessie" he cried ''dotry to stand
still and not push against me so. for 1
must keep hold Of Amy. too. You
know she's the littl'st and You'll help
me, won't yous'' he added in coaximg
tones as Bessie stopped her crying for
moment But glance at the dog
made her tears break forth afrpsh.
30 Rob. am 80 afraid Of the dog! o,
he'll bite Us; he will. he will See him
/ Jump What shall we do, Rob. dear
Rob. DO take us home' o. papa. papai
and Bessie clutched Rob with both
hands, trembling all over.
20. am 50 cold"' sobbed Amy. 81
want TO go home! The dog the dog!
don't let him bite me! on OH she
shrieked. pitifully.
There, there" said Rob Don't
be afraid; I'll take care of you. The
dogs mad; I've heard lots about them.
you see. and they won't tOuch water.
It's like poison IN them. We must
just stay here where he won't touch
US. and by and by he will get sick of
waiting for bite Of Us and go or "
Would no Que ever see them2 How
long must We stand here? can't do It
much longer" he thought rs he tried
10 brace himself afresh aud tighten his
hold on each child. But just tieu
when his strength WAS ebbing. the
parting message Of his uncle and new
idea gave him fresh courage. "I'll tell
YOU. Let's all scream together and
let the dog see we can beat him in
noise"
Little Amy stopped her sobbing and
wriggling and beguu with will
"Hurrahr' screamed Rob. sinntlv fol-
lowed by second shrill "Hurrahr'
from Amy. whose naturally buorant
spirits rose at an invitation to make a
noise. and desolate Papa! Papar'
from Bessie.
just then a rickety buggy drawn Ly
an old white horse came jogging down
the road from the village. A lank,
bent man in his shirt sleeves and straw
hat was driving. At the bridge his
ears caught the children's voices and
his quick. keen ewes took in the siiua-
ton. Great Scott" he exclaimed.
Calling the old horse to a sudden halt.
he jumped from the buggy. bringing
with him = gun, which he loaded |
quickly The furious brute soon saw
the man and bounded at him with red, |
angry eyes. A quick pointing Of the |
gun. sharp crack. and with yell the
dog rolled over on his side and never |
moved scaia. He had been hit be-
tween the eyes
''Come on. youngsters. guess he
won't do much biting now said the
man. n he ran up n the children.
who be you. anyway" he asked. rs
Rob helped the little girls up the bank.
But Rob was suddenly speeches.
and fell 10 the ground. The man car
ried him 10 his buggy; the girls followed
after. Learning from hem where they
lived, old Whitley WAS SION jogging at
faster pace into the village again.
and Rob was in his mothers arms.
Then he smiled ami said: Mamma, it
was pretty hard work but did hold on
10 them"
Sister Grace and Bridget put the
girls into dry clothes aud mamma made
them drink some peppermint tea, $50 as
not to get cold. she said aud they
were soon a merry rs ever Poor
Rob felt little weak and was glad to
lie on the lounge and let his mother
pet and care for him
Rob kept hold OF us Just rs tight
and told rs not TO be afraidr' exclaimed
Bessie.
"And I'm goino to write papa Just
how good You take care Of us. added
AMY.
well. Rob. nv hoy. can't you find
your tongue and tell us how you hap
pened t. think To ga into the waters"
said Mr.. Gray, who had joined tho
group.
You se'. papa" answered Rob. II
was over to Fred Warren's the other
night TO see his new rabbits. and then
we sat on the steps and talked about
our new postage stamps. He'd got
some foreign ones. Mr.. Warren was
reading the paper out loud to Fred's
mother. all about girls being bit by
a mad dog. and heard him say that
mad dog wouldn't touch water And
when ! saw the dog 50 near us and we
get home, thought Of that
knew about the sand bar. you know,
and so | went right in
No one could help smiling over Rob's
explanation. though all 4
hearts were full Of thankfulness for his
luiek-witted and courageous behavior. I
His uncle and aunt. who came back
or their children in due time. made {
quite a hero Of him But Rob cared 1
most for a new velOcipede with "a reg
liar bicycle seat on springs. boys" G
m which he raced all the fall and forgot
II about mad dogs in his delight over