Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-06-08
PRICE ONE CENT

smelt at Jerry's waistcoat and quite un-
derstood what was expected of him.
could not bear % L TX at Long Peter &C
this moment. His atures were work
ing with emotion, and could have sworn
that there were tears in his eyes; but he
said nothing. Everything being now
ready, he led Bouncer to the h, e, held
his muzzle for q moment pressed hard be-
tween his hands, while he gaxed into the
creatures expressive eyes. "Now, 60.
good dog, he whispered. and squeezing
himself through the hole Bouncer sped
away on noiseless feet.
Welistened intently for few minutes:
oh, how we listenedl our faces blanched
and our limbs trembling. Had Bouncer
escaped away on his wei hty errand with
out being discoveredg Alas, mol sud
den wild jabbering rose on the night air,
q rush of many feet, and the next instant
we detected yelp of pains
They have surely speared hint" whis-
pered Mr.. Ashby.
But Long Peter turned on him almost
in anger. mo, no, sir he said, "he is
just scratched. He'll do it yet, know
he wilt"
He must be quick, then, replied tho
master, "for those cursed savages have
struck a light somehow; they mean to
burn us out, lookl"
Our eyes We're now intently watching
the movements of the black fellows from
the loopholes, and we had not watched
long till we saw flaming brand whizz-
ing through the air, till it fell upon the
stringy bark roof above our heads. An
other and another Immediately followed;
still it did not seem to US that any OF
them had taken effect.
Garry up a bucket Of water through
the trap door and pour it over the roof,
whispered the master TO me; "but take
care of yourself; don't let tho IN see you.
did as l was directed, and thoroughly
drenched the roof, but while thus en-
gagged / heard shout from below. Il
was Mr.. Ashby's voices
"Come down, Jem; come quickly, ~
he cried, and ratified down the ladder
with a sinking heart. Long Peter lay on
the floor of the hut white and gasping; a
spear had entered one of the loopholes
and pinned him through the thigh. In
response TO my groan of utter dismay,
the good fellow struggled into q sitting
posture.
"Never mind me, Jem," he said;
fight it out to the last. Take my gun,
there is one charge in it yet; but first
drag me into that C Crner."
obeyed in silence, handed him n pam
nikin of cold tea, and then took my place
by Mr.. Ashby's side. Look out, he
whispered, II mean to fire at their ring
leader-that man with the blazing log in
his hand--I fear he has already fired the
roof. hear it cracking; but IL scarcely
matters now, the end is not far off. We
are doomed" AS he spoke these despair
ing words Mr.. Ashby fired, his bullet
bringing down the man aimed at, who,
with a wild screech, fell to the ground.
There was pause of CONSERVATION over
this and hurried talk among the savages
outside; then, with wild yells, the whols
force of the besiegers rushed on our little
garrison. A moments surging round
the door, then il gave way with crash
Mr.. Ashby's gun swinging on the crowd
of savages with terrific force, Telling two
of them like oxen. / can scarcely de-
scribe what followed. There was wild
struggle with our guns and our fists;
then two black fellows forced me to the
ground one was shortening his grasp Of
his spear to drive it through my body,
when he suddenly fell on top of me dead,
felled by the butt end of Mr.. Ashby 5 gun.
But knew little more; dimly seemed
to hear loud hurrah from outside, fol-
lowed by the cracking of rifles; then
every sound died away into utter silence.
"Well, declare, you have had bit of
a scrimmage, and here's poor Jem about
done forl" 1t was the voice of Jerry,
who was dragging away the dead body
of my assailant from off my chest.
~No, am not dead" / said feebly
enough mot even wounded, though half
choked with blood that is not my own.
Where is the master? and, oh, go and
look after Long Peterl He Is terribly
hurt, know"
@The other chaps are attending to him."
said Jerry; @and as for the master, he
says he is all right; he won't own to q
single scratch; he is game one, he is.
Well have you all carried to the Home
Station afore breakfast time, see IL we
don't. But you should have seen that
uOR OL IeUcI o. why NIB lc6k Was OH
skinned and raw, and he had an ugly
spear wound In the shoulder, so that the
letter was covered with blood. Wecould
scarcely make it out; but we guessed
quick enough that there was something
amiss, and came away at once. Wew were
just in time, Jem, my boy.
Didn't | tell ye as Bouncer would do
it?" cried Long Peter in rather weak
and quavering voice; "poor old chap
he added tenderly, as the faithful brute
limped across the hut at the sound Of the
shepherds voice and crept close to his
side. SYou and me win never part,
Bouncer, never, as long as we live. " And
they never did part till seven years later,
when, in extreme old age, Bouncer died,
and was buried in a grave dug for him
by Long Peter himself. "Ah, he said,
when the ceremony was over, @why do
them faithful brutes die 80 soon2 Ill
never see his like again; he was as wise
as any Christian, and deal more faith
full than many"