Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-12-06

matter Wnat peril menaced her.
AS for. Mrs. Crawford, she fel,
little apprehension. The Semi
noles, as yet had never been in the
immediate neighborhood, and hel
house stood on lonely creek, the
tributary of a small river, and was
so concealed by the luxuriant veg.
citation, trees and underground, tina,
there was hardly possibility of its
being discerned except by the meresi
accident. Then Bowser never left
the vicinity of the house, and would
not fail to apprise her of all ap'
preaching danger. She had al
abundance of provisions at hand
and so, singing cheerily, she went
about her work, and every morning
and evening sank upon her knees
and asked the protection of the
great Being in whose mercy and
kindness she placed her entire re-
lance.
The first two days passed with.
out disturbance, but on the second
evening she was rendered uncom.
Portable and uneasy by hearing the
discharge of several guns at nc
great distance in the woods. She
barred her doors and secured hel
windows, then retired to rest; but
the night passed away without any
recurrence of the alarming sounds.
On the afternoon of the third
day she was sitting near the door
and Bowser, who was stretched il
front of her, apparently asleep, sud
denly raised his head, and looked GU
toward the wood, giving utteranc'
at the same time to a low peculia
whine. The next instant he bound
ed out of the door, plunged into tn
bushes and disappeared.
The sagacity Of the faithful crea
ture convinced Mrs. Crawford tina
he had discerned the approach o
something-whether a white man
Indian, negro, or animal, it was i'm
possible to tell; but under the cir
cumstances, she judged it the par
of prudence to close the door ant
pass to the upper window, where sh
could make all the observations sh
chose without fear of discovery.
She had been there but a few mo
ments, when the dog made his ap
pearance and claimed admittance b,
scratching at the door. She lost NJ
time in opening it, then locke,
down in the dogs face, as if to asl
him what he had seen. HIS repl
was by taking her dress in his teetl
and pulling her outside, a most ur
gent invitation to accompany hin
to some point close at hand. Mrs
Crawford smiled and resisted him t.
test his earnestness; but Bowse
would not be denied. He whine
and ran to and fro around her, the
caught her skirt in his mouth an
pulled her again.
swell, Bowser, will go with you,
said she. $50 don't tear my dress.
As she stepped from the door sh
thought of her child, lying asleep i
the cradle. Could she leave tina
even for the space of a few minutes
She paused for a moment in doubt
She had frequently done so, an
why not now? She would be gon
but few moments during which n
harm could befall her. Closing tn
door, therefore, after her, she sign
fed to Bowser that she was read
to commit herself to his guidance.
The dog led the way as stealthll
as if he were an Indian OH the wal
path, taking a slanting direction tc
ward the creek, so that he reache
it several hundred yards below tn
point where the house stood. Her
he paused, as if to indicate that hi
journey was at an end.
!, Mrs. Crawford observed that h
had paused before really reachin
the creek-that is while she wa
afforded view of the stream, bot
the dog and herself were preclude
from the danger Of being seen them
selves.
She looked carefully about hel
but failed to see anything tina
could explain the dogs actions
Finally, however, she discerned rest
ing upon the overhanging limbs o
the creek, a small Indian canoe
1t was upon the same side as wher
she stood; but, as the stream mad
slight bend, it could be easily oh
served from where she stood.
She scrutinized the suspicion
ohiact for sopoa limo huf coxu NJ