The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-02-10

fainter. Then it's note changed to the
querulous worrying aud suarliMg, with
y loud. long bark now aud again,
which tolls tho master that his dog
wants help With a dangerous quarry.
! guessed how It WAS in that moment.
While l followed the lions old trail II
had been following me! 1 ran back.
Tho pcrro was working farther from
our path. Luckily Istruck at once the
spot where lie had bru,chcd away, but
1t was slow lifting his track through
tho forest. l had made up my m;ndto
return, when tho clnmnr changed ia
yclps and bowls. The lion had faced
about, struck down my dog aud per.
llaps was tearing him. As fast as
possible I hurried on.
"But If lions mean killing, all is
over in all instant when they have
their victim down, aud the perro's
miserable yells showed him TO 6c still
living. After awhile I came up. Sec
tie marks!" We observed two deep
scars OH tho left shoulder and two
slightcr Ones, two rugged punctnrcs on
the right. There the puma's claws
had graspcd willie llc struck.
.'Tho children loved my dog, aud no
artery was cut. / shredded some
Spanish moss. bound up his wounds,
slung him in my scarf, and set out for
home; SO far had we wandered that it
was nearer than the corral. am
strong. senorcs, but the sun was hot,
and u dog is heavy ON ones shoulders.
No path led through the forest, and l
could not feel sure, not being an
Indian. that l was following tho true
course. A hundred times l thought of
dropping tho poor ANIMAL, but I had
not the heart when he licked my neck.
and l remembered what his fats would
bc. dcvuurcd alive by ants.
presently lie became restless, and
ten lc grOwlcd. lit needs many
lessons to teach "a fool says a prover6.
I hit him with my elbow, but lie would
not he quiet. He began to bark fccbly,
gathering up his limbs, poor beast! /
suddenly caught the hint and turned.
At a few yards distance the bushes
softly swaycd beside my track! That
lion was following again. Hooked to
my rifle and set forward. In ten
minutes the growing recommended,
and the excitement Of the perro grew
stronger and stronger. Tie brute was
creeping up! cooked my gun, faced
around, but that devil was quicker!
Nothing could he seen hut the waving
of the twigs. i fired II chance shot to
no effect aud resumed my way after
loading. For u loag while all was
quiet. gained the river bank and
VAS working down, relieved of all
anxiety, for the spot was familiar. In
nh hour ! should he at home.
beyond Il broad belt of reeds and
swamny ground lay the clearing. That
was an ugly bit TO traverse with u lion
at ones heels, aud congratulated my
self lie had run away. Que could not
sec a yard on either hand when, half-
way through. the pcrro growlch and
barkca aud struggled in greater
agitation than before! l cried to the
saints. and tho sweat poured down.
When l turned, the leaves were all
bending and quivcring but five yards
away! l shot and hurried on, hut the
ground was difficult. In q few mo-
ments tho dog again gave warning,
and the reeds swayed all about. shot!
But now the dog did not cease to
raise such feeble clamor as lie could,
and l shot as fast as l could load.
Madrc di dos, senorcA what IL run
that was!
1.-The firing saved me! Twovaqucros
resting in the shade knew the sound
of my piece, and came to meet mo
hallooing. Tho pcrro was almost
chokcd in commissions by this time,
and I believe that lion had Just
gathered himself to spring when their
shouts alarmed him. And from that
time, senorcs, l have understood liow
. kind action docs not go unrcwardcd.
For if l had abandoned my dog l
should never have reached home that
ay."-F'romB s1Qrariu.