River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-02-13

As usual now, lay uro1 ny side
hugging Shadow to my stomach for rnu
tual warmth. He acted strangely al
night groaning and twisting; but ] wa
too tired to reflect
Next morning we had travelled couple
of miles down the track, when Shadow
suddenly turned and started back on
run, with his tail between his legs
Stupid with astonishment ] followed
him back to Yucca. He was lying in
the shade of the tank, and growled when
drew near.
l took off my knife-belt, looped II
around his neck, and began leading
him. He came along quietly enough,
and in mile or so had quite forgot all
about him.
But suddenly there was horrible
snarl, such as l never heard before nor
since; and there was Shadows face
within six inches of my own. In that
awful instant his look was burned upon
my memory forever. His eyes were
bloodshot, his open jaws dripped foam,
his white fangs CLEANED merciless in
the sunshine as they sought my throat
My dog sas mad
We were on long, high hill, perhaps
thirty feet above the bed of a little
wash. Instinctively gave a jerk on
the strap and thrust with my foot; and
he went rolling down the steep bank.
The instant he reached the bottom he
was up and springing fiercely toward me
again.
l threw my hand back for my ''navy
SIX" but it had worked around to the
middle of my back, under the long, stiff
duck coat, whose pockets were heavy
with ores, petrifactions, food, water
bottle and writing materials.
Before / could even loosen it in its
scabbard he was within yard of where
l stood. put all my strength and all
my skill into one desperate kick. 1t
caught him glancingly under the chin,
and rolled him down the bank again;
and again i tugged at the heavy re-
volver. He was too quick for me, and
once more / had to throw him off with
my foot, and down he went again into
the bed of the wash.
AS he rallied for third attack,
wrested the six-shooter loose and lev
eled it at those murderous iaws-I saw
them in my dreams for months after
ward.
Thus far my movements had been
purely instinctive-the sure, safe in
stinct Mother Nature teaches those who
live close enough to her heart There
had been no time to think. But now
that the grip of the well-tried weapon
in my hand brought its sense of security,
a wave of recollection swept through
me.
was going to kill Shadow! To kill
the dear, faithful comrade who had
shared so much of suffering and danger
with me! The thought unnerved me;
and the long, black muzzle wavered.
1t was not till he was within ten feet
thai the strong instinct of self-preserva-
ton came rushing back, and / pulled
the Tiger.
The tongue of cloudy fame seemed to
lick his very face. He tumbled back
ward, and rolled over and over to the
foot of the bank. The heavy ball had
creased his head and buried itself in his
flank. In a second he was on his feet
again, and fed shriezina toward the
hills. / knew what the desert was, /
knew the tortures of g-Inshot wound;
and the thought of my ps'or dog dying
by inches the most hideous death the
mind can conceive struck me like
douche of cold water. The trembling
nerves froze into steel.
dropped on one knee and took a care
full aim. must not miss him-I rouId
not He was now full hundred and fifty
yards away, running rapidly from me on
three legs.
/ got his course, and calculated his
speed. The desert echoes rang again;
and poor Shadow, whirling a somersault
from his own momentum, lay still for
ever.
With my heavy knife scooped lit
tie grave in the sand, under the tattered
shade of a yucca palm; piled lava bowl
ders above that quiet form to cheat the
prowling coyote, and then, unashamed,
stood wistfully there awhile, with hot
tears dropping on the thirsty sand.
And to this day, when pass the des-
ert, sit up far into the night, peering
out the Pullman window for a passing
glimpse of the little wash and the
blazed yucca; and there is strange
burning in my eyes and throat at the
recollection of my parting with one of
the truest friends l ever had-the time
l lost my shadow.-Chas. 4. Lummis, in
Youth Companion.