The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-12-01

gentle rise in the prairie, could see
in the distance a moving speck.
It was the nan-eater steadily
following my trail.
My surmise turned ont to be partly
correct. The animal seemed to be at
fault. He would stop and run back a
few yards and branch off aimlessly in
every direction. lBut this did not
last long. After q series OF eccentric
movements the hound would get on
my. track again and rush forward.
He was gaining, and my chances of
reaching the hill began to lookgloomy
For the next fifteen minutes I did
some good running, but when turn
ed to cast a backward glance, I could
see the dog more plainly than ever.
One thing encouraged me; he did not
appear to see ME, but Numbered on in
a clumsy, dazed sort of way.
There were no streams to cross
nothing that would throw him off the
scent. I had no weapon, only a small
. pocket-knife, and fight with q mad
dog was out of the question. My
STRENGTH was giving out, and I felt
U1l0 6IlU wa lOU lcdE Oil.
When again looked back, the dog
was not more than 800 yards away,
and the base of the hill was still a
mile off.
A spasm OF terror seized me, but,
to my surprise, the great brute sud-
denly sat down on his launches and
howled plaintively. 1t was minute
or two before he found the trail again.
If his malady had dimmed his 81 ght
and confused him, there was still a
chance for me, but it was a slim one.
With a tremendous effort broke for
ward on my last run. This time I
would reach the hill, or turn at the
last moment and die, making a. vain
effort to choke the monster. The
blood rushed to my head, and I could
hardly see anything as darted on at
the top OF my speed.
The hound was rapidly making
Roadway, and at last seemed to have
me in view. A glance over my should
or showed him not hundred yards
behind.
Everything was in whirl Some
body was riding out from sbehind the
hill and comingmy way. The hat, the
riding-habit-I could not be mistaken
it was Sallie Bolton. But my race
was nearly run. Even with help in
sight could bear up no longer. The
girl was riding like the wind, and
could see that she had a lasso in one
hand.
knew that this cattle queen, as the
cowboys called her, could do anything
almost with lasso, but would she
get there in time?
The man-eater came bounding on,
and Sallie-rode straight at him like a
little thunderbolt. She whirled the
lasso over and over around her head,
and but it was too late-I could
hear the dog painting behind me!
A wave OF darkness rolled over me
as I fell to the ground, just as I heard
something swish through the air.
But was up in a minute-just in
time to see my rescuer give pull
that frightened 1.-THE lasso about the
dogs neck. A few commissions and the
dog was strangled dead within six
feet of me. My thanks were cut short
by one of Bottoms neighbors, who Of
tered to take me back to the ranch,
an invitation not to be declined under
| the circumstances .~--5 ~ s. s-eir
Sallie Bolton rode down ahead, and
| when l reached the house her father
was waiting to congratulate me- on
my escape. ut was Pedro's work, "
he said. HE unlocked the door and
get the dog on your trail-at least, ]
think SO. He had a. key, and he has
disappeared.
Undoubtedly it was Pedro. He had
been trying to pay me back.
have never seen the Bottoms since
my adventure with the man eater, but
l am not likely to forget the little
| cattle queen while I live.-Atlanta
Constitution.