The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-28
HUNTED BY A HOUND.

HUNTED BY A HUUNU.
'tThe man eater is madl"
looked at the tall Texan apprehen-
sively.
care you certain2' asked.
II know it. had my suspicious yes
terday and now there is no doubt Of it."
This was serious. The man eater was
the largest and most ferocious blood
hound in Texas. 1t was hard enough to
control him at any time, but mad-I
shuddered at the thought
Ny weeks visit at the Bolton ranch
had satisfied me that my host really
cared for only two things in the world
his daughters and the man eater.
Where is Miss Sallie?" inquired
anxiously.
"oh, that's all right" replied Bolton
carelessly. "Sallie took her pony and
went of for ride an hour ago, and the
hound is safe enough. took him by
the collar just now and locked him up
where he won't get at anybody. But it
breaks mo up. old fellow; l wouldn't
lose him for anything"
My interest began to weaken. Miss
Sallie was safe, and the dog was locked
up. What was bloodhound to me? If
the savage monster died, SO much the
better. .
l walked off to the stable. A ride
over the prairie was not to be missed on
such morning, and there would be o
chance of riding back with Sallie.
But was doomed to disappointment.
My horse was lame. 1t did not take long
to convince me that somebody had been
riding him the night before.
Just then Pedro came in sight. The
ugly little Mexican gave start when he
saw me and looked away. ..
You yellow rascal" | shouted; "you
had my horse last night"
mo, senior" ...-. .
"You are lyingi"
"No, by all the saints, senior"
"Then where We're you at midnightg
IL was attending to my business"
snapped Pedro.
He looked so viciously mean and 30
impudcnt that l gave him n light cut
with my whip and told him to get out
of my sight. He muttered something
and skunk Off. There was no other ami
NAL that cared to ride, and made up
my mind to walk. .....
| had left the ranch several hundred
yards behind me when | turned and
looked back. Even at that distance |
could plainly recognize Pedro He was
walking around little cabin back Of
the kitchen, and was apparently peep.
ing through the cracks.
Looking ut the man cater" said to
myself. ut is good thing the beast il
locked up"
The bracing morning air and the level
prairie stretching out before me fol
miles tempted me to take long walk.
A long way off | could see hill, the
only one in all that fiat country. Why
=. not climb it and see what was on the
other side? Perhaps Sallie was ove1
there.
So walked on with swinging strides
fora couple of miles.
1 Suddenly came to dead halt.
: "That sounds like the man eater'i
bark" l exclaimed. Again l heard i
, and stopped moment.
N alyzed-I was absolutely unable to move
4 A thousand horrible thoughts rushed
into my mind. If this mad BLOODHOUND
was on my track my case was hopeless
4 could not get back TO the ranch; Their
was not tree in sight and the hill wa
: still miles away. What was to be done
: summoned all my strength and mad
i run at the top of my speed. kept Of
4 as long as | could, and then paused +
!. rest and listen. The man cater was com
q ing my way, but not much faster than
could run.
resumed my flight. Would ma
dog have his usual keen instincts abou
u him? Would he pursue the trail or bt
come confused and give itup?
These thoughts inspired me with
faint hope, If the dogs slow progres
3 enabled me to reach the hill, where ther
u was timber, could climb Il tree, or po.
{ sibly he would be missed and his maste
l would ride in pursuit.
= From one point where there was
!, gentle rise in the prairie could see
II the distance n moving speck.
1t was the man eater steadily follow
Z. ing my traili
My surmise turned out to be part
81 correct The animal seemed to be
Il fault. He would stop and run back
Il few yards and branch of aiInlessly
every direction. But this did not la
long. After series of eccentric NOV
S mcnts the hound would get on my trat
again and rush forward. He was gar
ing, and my chances of reaching the hi
began to look gloomy.
For the next fifteen minutes | d
n. some good running, but when turn,
4 to cast backward glance could s
the dog more plainly than ever.
To One thing encouraged me: he did n
leI appear to see me, but bluudered on in
:, clumsy, dazed sort of way.
-" There were no streams to cross-not
lc ing that would throw him off the seer
q | had no weapon, only u small pockt
knife, and a fight with mad dog W
out of the question. My strength W
ty giving out, and felt that the end W
~ not far off.
:, When | again looked back the d.
o. was not more than 800 yards aw ", IA
as the base Of the hill was still mile off
,nI A spasm of terror seized me. but
my surprise the great brute sudden
Ne sut down on his launches and howl
plaintively. 1t was minute or two |
fore he found the trail again. If |
malady had dimmed his sight aud &C
fused hlm there AS.
me, but it was slim o.se. " lth a Il
i, mcndous effort broke forward on L
last run. This time | would reach t
hill or turn at the last moment and d
making vain effort 10 choke the me