DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-01-16

the dogs allowed to continue with thr
party, or rather to skirmish from hun
dred yards to half mile on every side
ior which way soeyer the party went the
ours were before and behind, on the
right and left and between their bark.
ing up every tree where a squirrel had
been a week before, and tearing thronob
the brush like mad after every rabbit
that came in sight, and bawlinr into
every hollow log they came across in the
suspicion it might shelter possum,
they frightened away all the game
while, by inadvertently waking up a
polecat or two, they disgusted the hunt.
ers SO that tho Major proposed to shoot
the whole pack.
Before the propriety of this step was
seriously considered, however, the party
came to the DEVILS Courthouse and be-
gan It's ascent. Cautiously they crept
along the narrow ledge, made the as
cent, enjoyed the view from the top-for
there was nothing else to enjoy, the ours
having scared away all the game-tool1
their lunch and began their return.
They wero pretty tired by the time
they got back to the wide place in the
helf-path, and all sat down to rest
One of the party crawled on his face to
the edge, peeped over, AMI called atten-
tion to the depth of the gorge beneath.
If man should fall over there he'd
never live to touch bottom said one.
Throw one of the dogs over, said an
other. Yes, that will give us some fun,
at least, to pay for what they have
spoiled for u.s." spoke up another.
'The proposition was promptly mega
tived by both Rance and Bige, who.
though they had no great love for the
dogs, did not care to see them disposed
of in that way. Their scruples were
easily disposed of, however, by the pro-
duction of half a dollar by one of the
gentlemen, who offered to buy a dog
Now, in the mountains of Western
North Carolina half dollar looks as big
as cart wheel So when the tifty-cent
piece was drawn forth and offered to Bige
in exchange for one of his worthless
ours, his mind was made up on the spot.
The exchange was consented to, and
Bige selected the cur that was to be
made a sacrifice. The yelping victim
was dragged to the edge of the cliff,
when some one suggested to give him a
chance for his life by cxtemporizing for
his benefit a parachute. The idea was
voted good one; number of shrubs
then fastened by a string around the
dogs body; he was tumbled over by the
hands of Bigc, and he went down like
shot. Peering over the awful chaSm
with CURIOUS gaze the spectators behcld
him strike large stone at the bottom,
rebound and fall back shapeless mass
OF flesh.
"'That parachute was a failure said
the Major, and, as the dog at the bot
tom did not stir after they had watched
him through their glasses for five min
utes, the statement was generally ac-
cepted as embodying fact.
TRY the umbrcllas,' said one, and
all at once it was remembered that two
light umbrellas formed part of the
impcdiments borne by Bige and Rance.
"'Agreed' was the general shout,
and negotiations were at once opened
with Bige for another cur to be offered
UP on the altar of science, or, IN PLAIN
language, to be tossed over. the clltf.
But Bige did not want to sell any more
dogs, he didn't know what bis old wom-
an would think of such performances,
and in Bigc's cabin the gray mare was
the better holse. Rance was not SO
scrupulous. He was willing to sell
dog for the experiment, but not at
Bige's figure. His dogs were better
than Biges, and the least ne could
think of taking for one was dollar.
The dollar was contributed, the dog
changed owners, and the opened
umbrellas were fastened to a stout strap
that was placed round the dogs body
lust behind his forelegs.
"Rance took the dog in his arms, and
at the command over with HIM, flung
ont the brute into the air. The dog
gave terrible yell of fright as he sank
and the umbrellas wavered to and 1ro
to such an extent as to justify the be-
lief that the second canine was deS-
tined to share the fate OF the first.
"But he did not; as his body descend
ed the umbrellas caught the air, his fall
became slower, and, finally, he sank
softly among some bushes. The party
watched until sure of his safe arrival on
terra firma, when they fastened down
to rescue him and recover the umbrellas
The Major was first on the spot, when ne
found the dog had lodged in the shrub
berv which had caught the umbrellas
he was uniniured, but in such posltloh
that only his hind feet reached the
Ground. He whined to the Major as the
latter approached. The latter un6uck,ea
the strap, released the dog and by this
time the rest of the party we're near a'
hand.
""Go to your MASTER said the MAJOR
.Here. Bulger,' called Rance, but not a
steo moved Bulger from the slde OF 'he
Major, crouching between his 1eet anu
apparently begging his protection Nor
cou,d threats or persuasion induce
Bu,ger to go to Rance, and whenever
tbe latter came near the dog fed to the
Ma!or, and, getting behind him. woulu
barr and snarl at Rance as though pos
oai = W." loc;ro to Give