The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-05-29

animal up before dark? Would he
stand still?
Sunset was over, twilight came creep
ing into the valleys and faster and
faster up the mountain-sides, and at
last darkness hung over the scene.
Dick was almost frantic. The men
about him sympathized with his anx-
iety. AT last the boy came back with
a cart full of ropes, and great band of
leather, which had been suggested by
men to whom he had told his pitifu
story-but now nothing could be done in
darknessl Nothing could be done but
wait. To baguile the time the men did
little cooking, ate their suppers and
smoked their pipes, told stories, and at
last fixed themselves as well as they
could and tried to sleep. But not Dick
Swinley! Over and over again be
crawled out on the treacherous boulder
and gave his CHEEKY whistle. Over and
over again out of the depths of the
darkness, the horrible, yawning gulf of
blackness, came the little whinny-so
loving, so trustfu, so patient, so in
telligent that the rough men who were
waiting to rescue this noble animal
would turn to each other with strange,
sympathetic countenances, and with low
voices, such as men use by the beds of
the dying, would say: "Do you think
he'll last it out? Can he stand it?
Plucky creeturl he's hero, that he isln
Oh! in the long, silent hours, when
all had fallen asleep but Dick, how he
strained his ears for the fatal sound of
footstep on that little rocky ledge!
" If he moves he's lost! he kept say
ing to himself. Whistler! my beauty!
my finest and harnsomest Teller that
ever druvl l do hope and pray he'll
hev the strength to stand it out till
mornin'. What's that?"-and with
held breath he listened to sudden
sound. ooh! it's nothin' but stone,
l reckon! pray that ar hoss'll stand
it. Pray! why shouldn't pray?" he
cried, jumping up suddenly. "Don't
the Lord like his creeturs as we'll as his
folks? I've heerd tell as how he don't
let no single swallow fall ter the ground
without a-noticin' of it! Why shouldn't
he be a-watchin' Whistler now? Why
can't | ask him to put pluck into the
splendid feller's heart and sinners of
steel into his legs? But fer that matter
he did it when he made 'em l will ask
him, anyhow. 'Twon't do no harm.
Nobody'll hear me! '-and Dick, going
away from the others, knelt down in
the dust and said, Lord, Pm an igno-
rant man and bad 'un. / drink an |
don't never pray, not since rs a boy
But o, Lord, if you'll only just get
Whistler outen this ye'er awful bad box,
III try ter do my level best for yer all
the rest of my days, so help me God,
Amen.n
Just as he got through and rose, with
half blush, 10 the darkness. the soft.
questioning whinny came up again, and
he shouted, " Hang on, Whistler, the
Lords a-goin' to help yer-I asked
himl"
Morning dawned bright and beauti-
full. The moment it was light Dick
woke up all the men and prepared for
business. Being securely fastened
into hoop himself, he had ropes and
the leather band and blankets to carry
down with him, and soon was hanging
beside Whistler, who stood as quiet as
if he were cast out of bronze. Long
and patiently the man worked in that
dangerous and inconvenient position,
but finally he had his favorite rugged 80
that he was sure he could be drawn up
in safety. And with a last caress on
the velvet nose and last encouraging
word to the wise aad plucky horse, he
began to swing up again to the top. 1t
was then that Whistler showed signs of
Encouragement. But in a few mo-
ments he was relieved. Gently, slowly,
with sure and certain movement be
was lifted off his feet. Wonderful as
this must have been to him, not a strug-
gle did he make. Up, up in midair he
was raised, higher and higher! The
Jagged rocks cut him little, the scrubby
bushes pricked him, but Whistler knew
that life depended upon his caution.
Not kick or struggle he gave, and at
last he was pulled, sideways, up the
road, and lay in safety at the feet of
his master.
Oh, what hurrah arose! What
long, long, echoing cry of delight burst
from Dick Swinley's lips! How the
poor sufferer was rubbed and fed aud
petted and caressed by every man in
turn! And when he was strC ne enough
to be led into the town, what an even
ing they made of it telling" the boys"
of his miraculous escape! Dick and
Whistler were the lions of the place.
Nothing was too good for either man
or horse; but when all his friends
begged Dick to drink, and toasted both
him and Whistler in the whiskey which
he had never before disdained, Dick
cried" No, boys; once for all, no! Pm
a-goin' to leave off drinkin' and all my
bad habits just as fur as ken. Iprom-
ised TO if only Whistler was saved. And
you were saved, weren't you, Whistler?
And mebbe now you'll save ME, my
hearty" caressing Whistler's silky
neck, "Yis, Pm a-goin' to keep my
promise; l be, no matter what yer say.
I've given my word o. honor, and /
sticks to it if | dep
The others, seeing Dick thoroughly
in earnest, grouped around him with
astonished but respectful coun te-
nances, until one, in rather scornful
voice, said: " l say, Dick, who vast yer
promised?"
"The Lord" said Dick, doffing his