The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-04-03

Iondle the creature. that now a,on
ping the menacipg attitude ia hap'
assumed toward the agpressin,
stranger came up and thrust bis hue
snout IN MS masters lap. "Yes ii,
fellow, while ! live YOU sboll noua
want friend to avenge your wrong
though ! have to fight reriment !,
90 IT. And amt right in that nun
ming he still further remarked turn
ing TO the hunter "'' WI Il
Der yes IT needful," replied th,
latter,; - but the der dog I'm Think
would ask no favors if YOU would civ,
nm leave to der do his own WORK n,
meddlers. " WIZ" VI
,, ON that wouldn't do. Won know
Tom, " rejoined the former. "for IL
put said the word Roarer would fen,
MN in shoe strings as Quick no Won
could say Jack Robertson No.: ri
settle the hash myself. And I am nou
ready to hear the fellows eynlanat; , ny ),
aggressor. Wv
But the last named questionable
parsonage not relishing the course mat
lers were taking, now in subdued and
Altered tone, promptly disclaimed any
intention OF touching the dog, and ex.
pressed his regret at what had han
pened. f
20, that's enough" said Coffin. in
stantly cooling off. "All right. now
koarer You may lie down again
sir, y he continued, waving away the
dog, that had faced round, and still
stood suspicuously eyeing the offender
Yes, that's enough; we'll call the
matter settled. But by way of ex.
piainng to you, who are strangers,
what have said about that dog IS
claims to my friendship and protec
tion' must tell you a story, which
VIII Show YOU how much the noble
creature is deserving at my hands.n
Six years ago, the seventh dav of
last March, as was returning from the
settlements on Otter Creek, distance
OF from twenty to thirty miles, through
the then entire wilderness, with the
snow nearly five feet deep or level,
and the weather so cold and stormy,
that | was compelled to travel with a
great coat on, as well as snow shoes,
J undertook to cross one of the ponds
In Plymouth on the ice. which | SUP
PoH'o PCi lcStls souDu anu SdIt Tor
anything that could be got on to it.
But for some reason or other, there
seemed TO have been one place, con
cealed from view by the snow, so thin
and spongy that the moment | stepped
upon 1t, | went down some feet below
the surface into the water, while the
snow and broken ice at once closed
over me- And although | succeeded
IN forcing my way up through the
slush, and getting my head above
water, yet | soon fonud it, hampered
as | was with snow shoes and great
coat. impossible to get out. As sure
as | tried to raise myself by the
teacherous support at the tides, 80 sure
was 1t to give way, and precipitate me
back into the water. But still
struggled on, till chilled to the vitals.
so benumbed that | could scarcely
move a limb, and growing weaker and
weaker after every effort, | could do
no more, and | saw myself gradually
for the last time. 0 heavens
who can describe my sensations who
conceive the thousand thoughts that
flashed through my mr. d at that hor-
rible moment! But just as | was on the
point of giving up in despair, | caught
II glimpse of my dog that had taken d
circuit wide from me after some game
coming on to the pond. | raised one
faint shout-it was all | could do, -
and, though nearly half mile off, he
heard it, and came on, with monstrous
bounds, to the spot In a moment he |
was there; and, after giving me one
look, l can never forget that look, -
he slid down to the very verge of the |
hole to try to assist me. With a
| made out to raise one hand |
out of the water within his reach He
seized the cuff of my coat, and. |
dragging back with the seeming
strength of draught horse. he, with
one pull. brought me half out of the
water. With a desperate effort on
my part. and another on his, the next
instant | was lying helpless, but safe,
IN the ice. while the dog fairly howled
aloud for JOY. | said safe; for as
hopeless as some might have viewed
ny situation, even then, wet. benumb-
I'd. nearly dead with cold and exhaus-
lion. and many miles from any human
lelp or habitation, as | was, yet rally
ing every energy l had left me, and
-olling, kicking, and paving. TO put
ny blood in motion, and regain the
Use of my limbs, soon got on my
'eet when, Selling my gun, that |
lad hurled aside as went down, l
made for dry tree in sight, fired into
spot of punk | luckily found on one
tide of it, kindled fire, warmed and
Tried myself, set forward again, and
cached home that night; but with
ceilings towards that dog, sir, that
AN never know towards any other
.reated being not even. in some re-
poets, towards my wife and children,
{ es. sir; will not only fight, but, If
iced be, die for him.