The Yale expositor., 1895-11-22

able place for himself in the world.
But all / said had little, IL any, effect
on the man; he would not consent to
anything of the sort.
And then 1t came about that one day
my father CHANGED upon us as we were
talking together. l may never forget
the look of establishment, dismay and
anger that rested on his stern face as
he saw us sitting side by side in the
shelter of the shrubs that hung over
the shore rocks, both munching cookies,
for had been bringing lunches to jim
for long time.
My father was furious; he seemed
tempted to spring upon my strange
companion. Jim said not word in de-
tense of himself, but pulled his hat low
over his eyes and skulked away like n
whipped dog.
Father demanded to know about the
man, and his questioning made me tell
many things that did not want to tell.
These things did not tend to soften my
fathers temper in the least.
1t was the very next day that my IA
ther bought big yellow dog-a fierce
looking creature with reddish eyes and
cleaning teeth. He declared he would
soon teach tramps that they could not
linger about his grounds.
From the first l was afraid of the dog,
for the animal growled and licked its
chops whenever / was near, looking at
me as If it longed to fly at my throat.
Indeed, the creature was so fierce that
1t was necessary that it should be
chained for time till it came to know
who was its master.
For some days was kept close to the
house, and / know / was watched a
great deal; but l saw nothing of Jim,
and lonely feeling came over me, for
felt that l might never see him again,
and a strange attachment for the tramp
had grown within my breast.
On the fourth day after the purchase
of the dog my father became worried
about the creature, for 1t lay growing
and whining at the end of it's chain,
its eyes glowing like Goals, while a
fringe of froth chung around its muz-
zle.
THE beast is SICK" my father de-
clared. 81 don't like his actions. He
may be going mad"
had heard of mad dogs, and when l
went to look at the animal and it
strained at its chain, with its red eyes
fixed on my face. while sharp yelps
broke from its throat, ran away, filled
with terror.
1t must be that my show OF fear added
to the fierceness of the animal, for, of
a sudden, heard deep-throated howl
behind me, and one look over my Shout
der showed me the dog in hot pursuit,
bit of the broken chain dangling from
its iron collar.
The terror of that moment nearly
overcame me, but l managed to keep
to my feet, running forward blindly,
and shrieking at the top of my voice.
A horrid choking came into my thKoat
and 1 staggered as l ran, expecting at
any moment to feel the poisonous teeth
of the mad dog tearing at my quivering
| flesh.
l heard the dog close behind me-
seemed to feel its fetid breath on the
| back Of my neck-I stumbled and fell
Just as / went down / saw a man
leap out Of the bushes and go past me
to meet my canine pursuer. 1t was but
glimpse, but that glimpse was enough
tramp. In his hand something bright
| flashed.
Scrambling to sitting posture / saw
man and dog meet in mortal combat
The mad animal leaped straight al
Jim's throat, but the mans arm pro-
tected that point, and the cleaning
teeth closed on that. Then began such
a terrible struggle as l hope never
| again to witness.
The tramp struck the dog with the
knife in his hand, and blood flowed
upon the grass. But the creature was
not to be beaten off, and it again leaped
at Jim's throat. The sharp yelping OF
the dog mingled wish the hoarse breath
of the man, and heard the crunching
of the beasts teeth tearing through
flesh to the bone.
Again and again the animal leaped
The man grew weaker, and both man
and dog were despatched with blood
At last the persistent beast overthrow
my heroic defender, and saw them bat
Ting madly on the grass, the dripping
knife being plunged again and again to
the hilt. Then covered my eyes with
my hands and saw no more till l felt
myself caught up in my fathers strong
arms.
Father had seen 1t all. He was white
and shaking as he paused to look al
both man and beast, now stretched
silent and motionless on the blood
stained grass.
"Dead-both deadw he muttered
hoarsely why should he do this tc
save my boy? 1t is the tramp-the
tramp whom drove from the grounds!
Then he bent still nearer to look
straight into that bearded, blood-stained
f! face. One moment he stared, and then
he reeled backward, dropping me like
an inanimate thing, and clasping his
hands to his head as he shrieked:
"Merciful Heaven! it is James-my
brother Jamesw
/