The Helena independent., 1891-12-06
largest fire was smouldering. on d bench

largest fire was smouldering. On a bench
side by side, three tubs were sitting and il
was at this bench that Sound picked up the
trail again. Evidently Mink had paused tc
| chat with the woman who Was washing
The ground was moist and the dog had
! little trouble. AS he recovered the trail he
expressed his qualification BY little whim-
per. The trail led down the spring branch
| and into plantation road. then over q
fence across a new ground'' until it struck
| bypath that led to an arbor near church
whore the negroes had been holding re
other problem for the dog. A hundred o1
two negroes had been gathered here, and il
was evident that Mink had been one of the
crowd, mingling with the others and walk
ing about with them.
Young Gather called MI. Locke's atten-
tion to this. You'll never get the trail
away from here ii the world said he.
round with him2'
THAT dog said Mr.. Locke, watching
the hound anxiously, has got notions Of
his own and he bound to carry em out.
He won't be fooled with Don't say moth
ing. just stand off and watch him. Tics
been III worse places than this here
But it was a tedious task the dog had be-
fore him. Winding in and out in the
| mazes Of an invisible labyrinth, turning
| and twisting, now slowly, now more rap
idly, he pursued, with unerring nose. the
footsteps OF the runaway, and when he
had followed tho trail away from the
church he was going at q brisk pace, and
his whimper had changed to an occasional
yelp. MI. Locke who UP to this timo had
been leading his horse, now took Oft his
cont. folded it carefully, and laid it on his
saddle. Then he mounted his horse, and
with Gather and Joe Maxwell trotted along
after his dog.
Mink must have fingered on the way, for,
a quarter Of mile further on, Music joined
Sound i'll his work, and the two dogs footed
it along right merrily, their mellow voices
rousing a hundred echoes among tho old
red hills. A mile further the dogs paused
at9a tree where there were traces of tlre.
Scattered around were scraps of sweet po.
tato puelings and bread.
Here il whero the gentleman roasted
last night" said Mr.. Locke, and it must
hnve beon true, for Sound, with his hcau III
the nir, made half circle, picked up II
warmer trail, and tho two dogs wero off like
the wind, joe Maxwell hecane very much
Interested. The horse lie was riding was
swift and game. and he drew away from tho
others easily. Neithor bitches nor gullies
were in his way and in tho excitenlent u
aix-rnil fence seemed to be no ohstucln.
MIR. Locke shouted something at Joe,
probably some word Of warning, but the
words failed to reach tho lads oars. But
terily fought for his head and got it, and
in the twinklng OF an eye Carried his rider
out Of hearing Of his oompnu'ons.
The dogs had sworved 4 little to the left
md were making straight for tile river
tho Ooonoe. Butterfly ran into il plantation
rond md would have crossed it, but Ioo
held him to 1t, and soon discovered that ho
was gaining OH the dogs. From slightly
different directions, the hounds and the
horse seemed to be making for the Same
pont7-nna this point, ns IT turned ont,
was tho plantation ferry, whero u hnttenu
wua lsert Joe Maxwell reached the top
of the hill overooking tho river Just as the
dogs reached the ferry. Here he drew rein
and looked about him. Tho hounds ran
about on the river bank barking and howl
ins Sound went INTO tho water, but find
ing that he was driftiag down Instead of
going across henladb his way out aud shook
himself, but still continued TO bark, A
quarter Of u mile away there was Il great
bend il the river, Ear down this bend Joe
could soc hattunu drifting. Az he watched
II the Thought struck him that it did not
sit ~ lightly in the water ns IN empty boat
shonld, Suppose Z he asked himself with
Il laugh suppose Mink 10 in the bottom
OF that hRtteau2n