The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-04-14
HUNTED BY A HOUND

terday and now there is nosGdoubt of IT.
This was serious. The man eater was
the largest and most ferorious blood
hound in Texas. 1t was hard enough 10
control him at any time. but niad-f
shuddered at the thought!
My 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 SaIlieg'' l inquired
a~nxiously.
''Oh, that's all right" replied Bolton
carelessly. '.Sallie took her pony and
went of for a ride an hour ago, and the
hound is safe enough. | took him by
the collar just now and locked him MP
where he won't get at anybody. But it
breaks me up. old fellow: ! wouldn't
lose him for anything"
My interest began to weaken. Miss
Sallie was safe, and the dog was locked
up. What was a bloodhound to me? II
the savage monster died. so much the
better.
over the prairie was not to be missed on
such o morning, and there would be q
chance of riding back with Sallie.
But | was doomed to disappointment.
Ny horse was lame. It 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 a start when he
saw me and looked away.
sgv-~ x,1lo~- ~..coTrs' 4 chn~<ol. s~1-
had my horse last nightr
mo, senior"
"You are lyingr
mo, by all the saints, senior"
Then where We're you at midnighty'
II was attending to my business
snapped Pedro.
He looked 30 viciously mean and 90
impudent that | gave him II light cut
with my whip and told him TO oct ont
of my sight. He muttered something
and skunk off. There was no other sni-
NAL that cared to ride, and / made mp
my mind to walk.
I mad left the ranch several hundred
yards behind me when | turned and
looked back. Even at that distance 1
could plainly recognize Pedro. He was
walking around q little cabin back OF
the kitchen. and was apparently peep
ing through the cracks.
Looking at the man eater" l said to
myself. 1T is a good thing the beast Is
locked up"
The bracing morning air and the level
prairie stretching out before me for
miles tempted me to take a long walk.
A long way off / could see o hill, the
only one in all that fat country. Why
not climb it and see what was on the
other side? Perhaps Sallie was over
there.
So I walked on with swinging strides
for a couple Of miles.
Suddenly / came 10 q dead halt.
THAT sounds like the MAJ eaters
barkI" | exclaimed. Again heard 1t
and stopped q moment. -
For an instant my muscles were par
alyzed--I was absolutely unable to move.
A thousand horrible thoughts rushed
into my mind. II this mad bloodhound
was on my track my case was hopeless
| could not get back to the ranch; there
was not a tree in sight and the hill was
still miles away. What was to be done?
l summoned all my strength and made
a run at the top of my speed. kept ON
as long as ! could, and then paused to
rest and listen. The man eater was COM
ing my way. but not much faster than /
could run.
| resumed my flight. Would q mad
dog have his usual keen instincts about
him? Would he pursue the trail or be-
come confused and give it up?
These thoughts inspired me with q
faint hope. If the dogs slow progress
enabled me to reach the hill, where there
was timber, / could climb a tree, or pos
sibly he would be missed and his master
would ride in pursuit.
From n point where there was q
gentle rise In the prairie / could see in
the distance o moving speck.
Il was the man eater steadily follow
ing my trail!
Ny surmise turned ont to be partly
correct. The animal seemed to be at
fault. He would stop and run back q
few yards and branch on aimlessly In
every direction. But this did not last
long. After q series of eccentric move
ments the hound would get on my track
again and rush forward. He was gain
ing, and my chances of reaching the Hill
began to look gloomy.
For the next fifteen minutes | did
some good running. but when turned
TO cast . backward glance | could see
the dog more plainly than eyer.
One thing encouraged me: he did not
appear to see me, but ~blundered on in 4
clumsy, dazed sort Of way.
There were No streams C csyass-nofI
ing that wonld throw him off the scent.
had NO weapon, only d small pocket
knife, and q fight with a mad dog was
ont Of the question. My strength was
giving ont, and I felt that the ena. was
not Tar Oh.
When again looked back thu dog
YVES not more than 800 yards away. and
the base Of the hin was still Il mile Of.
a spssm Of terror seized me. but d
my surprise the great brute suddenly
sat down On his launches and howled
pIainfiyeiy. 1t was i minute or two be-
fnre ~ fa1and fhA trail sagain re ~.