South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-06-19
SAVED BY A DOG.

We were discussing dogs. when
Capt. Clark, q native Of Illinois, re.
laied an incident tina. will bear re-
peating.
About ten years ago the Captain
purchased some land on the south
branch OF the Big Wichita River,
Texas, and few months later went
out to make arrangements for cstab-
fishing a ranch. lie took With him q
large shepherd dog of great inteIli-
gence. From Fort Worth he JOUR-
neyed to within twenty five miles of
his destination by Fail. At tn, fort
he hired a horse for q week, got his
directions about the roads. and Sc.
off in good sp;rits. 1t was lovely
weather aud bracing atmosphere,
and the Captain was jolly enough uD-
I'll, after the frs. FIVE miles had been
covered, he noticed that "Prlnce"
was acting in queer manner. Three
different times the dog beaded the
horse "a il to turn him back, aud
when this did not avail he sat down
in the road and howlej. The Captain
got down To look him over, hut could
find nothing wrong. The dog would
look up at him ADD whine and bark
and run back toward the town, aud
when his master refused to follow
him he how!ed. No such conduct
bad ever been noticed iu Linn before.
He left the town at 2 o'clock ia the
afternoon, calculating to stop over
night al ranch eighteen miles dis
tant. and, after wasting quarter of
an hour with the dog, remounted and
rode on. Prince howled louder than
ever. He followed. but with his tall
ADD ears down, as il in great trouble.
Two things happened to prevent
the Captain from reaching the ranch
as 10 had planned; a thunderstorm
and he got among the cattle trails
and lost his way. The dog kept up
his strange conduct. IL was 9 o'clock
in the evening, with another storm
threatening, when he drew up a. q
cabin on a small creek flowing into
tue Wichita. He had seen the light
and made short cut 10 reach it. Ia
response to bis call an eyiI-lookina
woman about 40 years old care Ia
the door, and TO his request to be nc
commcdatei for the night granted a
ready affirmative. While the horse
was being cared for in brush stable
the man OF tue house came home
lie had face more vicious than the
woman's. Tue supper consisted o.
hoe cake and bacon. and the house
aud everything in 1t indicated shift
lessness and poverty. The WON 81
had no questions TO ask, but the mar
was full OF them.
ALTO o'o.ock, with the storm still
raging. Capt. Clark went to bed
TherN were two rooms in the house
with bed In each, and he had tn
, front room. While he did not lik
the looks Of the pair, be had no sus
picion that they intended harm. II
was we'll armed. brave man, aud b.
, did not intend to Alsep too soundly
There was neither lock nor catch oil
his door, and he kept it closed b,
placing a light stand against it. ii
bad gone to the door and whistler
) for Prince before removing his clothes
but the dog would not come. Never
lhelesJ, the Captain was only fsirl
In bed when tue dog came TO tho out
or door, snuffed about for minute
and then set up a bowling. TIL
master got up TO let him in, but b
ran away. IL seemed ss thong
Prince was mad. and the Captai
made up his mind to shoot him 10 tb
morning.
, cit was after midnight when / va
awakened. Tue dog hal his nose 9
! the bottom of the door. and was how
Z inZ. ] heard movement in the ne1
! room / heard the man walk scros
!. the floor In his bare feet aud ope
the back door and 20 out. No doul
be bad gore TO drive Prince avs,
and settled back IN bed and thsnke
him for it. The dog ran of, bJ
though 1 listened long / did not hea
the man return. / Ill hear some
thing, but supposed be had cried OF
TO the dog. The storm vas o7e
COW, and the light OF the moon food
ing the room, aud as I turned over
saw that the door was ajar, / ros
up on my elbow to get a better lool
and at that instant The door wa
pushed further open ard in came th
woman. she bad light axe 10 bC
/ hand, and no sooner had she NAL
out that / was awake than she sprau
, forward and struck at me With oil be
might. i had no time To calculat
but evaded the blow by instinct. ST
struck al my head, and ! drew myse
downward, with only az inch OF Nv
10 spare. As tho blow fell tFis,e
. myself out Of bed, and before The wc
= man could strike oTain lhl5 htr.