The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22


trembling with fright TO consider what
could be done. There was small time for
consideration, for the dog was rapidly app
preaching. He had barely time 10 climb
up low. spreading tree, when the sleuth
came in sight, and soon lay painting at IFS
roots.
freed, and in limitlcss forest, silent as
the grave, and no hope of rescued
1t is not TO be supposed while this story
is being told that the whisky in the jug
and brown sugar were being entirely neg.
icctcd. But, having reached this point in
the catastrophy OF the history. another
toddy was compounded of which they all
drank TO better acquaintance, and the
major proceeded.
Fortunately dog cannot climb q tree.
Neither could the major go down with any
assurance Of safety. lie therefore made
the best dispositions he could for spending
the night, as the sun was setting in the
west while the short twilight was coming
on, and there was no hope of relief till the
following morning. The tree was fortu-
nntcly one of which the boughs were thick
and strong, standing ont from tho trunk
nearly horizontally, like the widespread.
ing beech, " and IN these friendly branches
he made his dispositions for sleep, being
much inclined thereto by his great fatigue
and his late excitement. He lashed him
self with his handkerchief TO one of the
limbs and soon dozed away into quiet
slumbcr, sleeping as n wcared trooper on
a long retreat slumbcrs on his horse, wax.
ing up at every indication OF liability TO
fall.
% He had INDUCED in some vague hopes
that the dog would 90 away, but when the
birds sounded their rcicilc mt daybroak
he found the patient hound doing lazily
a. the root. But the slightest motion
awakened the wary sentinel TO vigilance,
and there was nothing for him to do but
stay where he was. The last remnant Of
his grub was dispatched by way of apology
for his breakfast, in which he had the adj
vantage OF the hound, "for the dog had
none" The sun arose and assembled the
heavens, but no relief came to the prisoner,
and no friendly footsteps indicated the
approach Of any human being. The day
wore on YEARLY its almost intcrmn-
able length, giving him ample leisure for
reflection. lie heartily rcproachcd himself
for his vain effort 10 escape. Thirst, su.
pcrinduccd by his dry breakfast and tie
hot, close air OF the woods, began TO annoy
him, but passed away, rs his mind was
being tofmcntcd by bitter cogitatons and
mXietios. Insects began 90 poster and
sting him; everything tended TO fret and
distress him 10 evaporation: but princ.
pally the stoical indifference with which
the bloodhound kept his faithful watch.
lie felt continual appetite 10 indulge
in blasphemy and 10 curse, especially dogs:
remembered all the hard things that could
be- said about dogs 90 their disparagcmcnt,
and calculated in impotcnt explosives
against all the canine race. All this had
no effect on the argus-eycd sentinel who
kept him imprisoned in the tree. Once
or twice he cssaycd at
Now lay me down 70 tccp,
and such other liianies as had not persisted
out OF the memories Of his childhood; but
his Cxaspemtion was such he was not OF a
pnyerlul spirit, and his first efforts at sup.
plication were failures. The long day nj
length closed with sunset, and the major
was 80 nervous he could only endure u
long, vigilant and nearly interminabe
night. in which the deep silence OF the
wood rendered his situation more gloomy
and lonesome, more hopeless and exasper-
ating. The stars kept watch over him
boughs; the dews fell upon him, and be.
cause Of his long lasting and con.
strained position, grew very cold. But
still lac held on, and the dog would
not 90 away. lie invented the choicest
imprccations and Illuminated them mt the
beast below, hut without the slightest re-
suit. In the lonely silence Of the forest,
in which the tree alone WIS his aud all the
balance OF the world the dogs, he was con-
sumcd with acliroproach for his folly.
Hunger and thirt made him pine for the
"ilcsh-pOts and onions" Of captivity, and
lac regretted the Confederate prison lac had
run away from. Ills empty stomach,
lean and unicd sides, stimulated his i'm.
aginntion into a relish for unattainablc
blnqucts Of poor beef and conbread.
But the next day dawned at last, the
rising sun and the merry birds following
the dawn. II brought only deferred hope
and renewed thipt and hunger. lie looked
at the dog below, examined his ribs 10 zee
II In, too, was hungry, ianciod the hound
was wasting away and his ribs showed
more plainly, but lac knew II the dog could
see Ibis ribs he would bc equally sure he
was weakening. In the race 10 starye II
out. the dog occupied the advantage
ground and would win he was ia no dan
ger OF falling.
Growing melancholy, the major begun
DAY of prayer aud OF alterations of hope
and dependency, only varied by bursts Of
impotcnt anger nj gnais aud flies, which
in the hot midday diverted his attention
from the bloodhound. Not ioolstcp was
heard nor friendly voice echoed In the for
esis. lie had quit swearing at the dog
from mere impotence and the hopeless IN.
adequacy Of language or thought 10 do
Justice to the subject, and from sheer cx.
hau.ion Of spirits, icll into Indifference 10
his surroundings for short periods. He
even forgot his hunger and Thirst since the
sunshine had warmed him into compare.
tive comfort, but listened for iosistcp or
the sight OF voice OF something human.
The loneliness became mom cndurablc
from habit, and between intervals Of hope
and Indifference, the dog wasted away and
another night descended on him. lie had
grown somewhat used 20 tree life, and
slept cautiously, with some refreshing.
| Ills dreams wcp gay. lie was being
ieasicd again, sometimes on Confederate
aud sometimes ON Federal fare, both
Of which were good, because of his raven
ous hunger. In these dreams lac saw and
drank from fountains Of pure and crystal
water. Tho third morning. nj length
| dawncd on him 20 display the slouth.
/ hound still ut his post. The status quo
WIS doubtless tedious 10 tho dog Il had
| become intensely ~ 90 the major. The
! mon0tOny would ultimately become IN.
| cndumblc. and he would from sheer OK.
haus,ion fall into tho fangs Of the hungry
| lFufo