The times., 1897-03-14

II came thiSmoning by the thunderw ood
tree, said Aal on. Hide IN the grass near
there, and when they pass, come charging
after
The Gogs came nearer and nearer, an d the
swamp could hear Mr.. Simmons cheering
them on. AS for Mr.. Simmons, he was
sure OF one thine-the dogs were trailing
either a wildcat or a runaway. lie had
never trained them not To follow the seen I
or wildcat, and he now regretted it, for
ms Keen ear, alive to differences that
would attract the attention Of those who
had never made study of the tciupera-
Inent OF dogs, detected mere savage note
III their cry than he was acc oStunIed to
hear. Nor did his ear deceive him Sound
was following the scent of Aaron, but his
companions We're trailing Rambler, who
accompanied Aaron, ana this fact gave
fiercertwang 10 their cry.
When Aaron was going from Gossett's to
the river landing Rambler was not trotting
at his heels, bat scenting ahead, sometimes
far to the right and at other times far to
the left. But in going from the river to
the swamp it was otherwise Rambler had
to hold his head high to prevent Aaron's
heel from striking him on the under Jaw.
His scent lay with that of the son of Ben
Ali.
For that reason Mr.. Simmons was puzzled
by the peculiar cry of the dogs. He had
trained them not to follow the scent of
hares, coons and foxes, aadif they wercnot
trailing runaway, he knew, or thought he
knew, tiat they must be chasing wildcat.
Pluto, the crop-eared catch dog, galloped by
his masters horse. He was fierce-looking
hrt,f hut, IT,,
be no match for wildcat.
When the dogs entered the swamp Mr.
Simmons tried to follow, bat he soon found
his way barred by the undergro with, by the
trailing vines, the bending trees, the rank
canes. He must needs leave his horse or
lead it when he entered the swamp. He
chose to do neither, but sat in his saddle
and waited, Pluto waiting with him, ready
to go in when the word was given.
When the hounds entered the swamp
they were in full cry They struggled
through the vines, the briers. and the canes,
ard splashed through the spreading arms
OF the lagoon. Suddenly they ceased to
cry. Then Mr.. Simmons heard strange
snarling and swapping, an ominous crash
ing, fierce snorting, and then howls and
screams of pain from his hounds
"a cat, by jing!' he exclaimed aloud.
Intent on saving his hounds if possible he
gave Pluto the word, and that savage brute
plunged into the Swamp with cleaning red
and eager eyes.
Mr.. Simmons never really knew what
happened to his hounds, but the Swamp
knew. When they splashed past the White
Pig that fierce guardian of the Swamp
sprang from his lair and rushed after them.
They tried hard to escape, but the hindflost
was Caught. The White Pig ran by his side
for the space Of three fun seconds: then.
lowering his head he raised it gain with
toss sidewise, and the hound was one for
ripped from flank to backbone as neatly
as a butcher could have done it, Another
was caught on the horn of the red steer
and flung sheer into the lagoon. Sound, the
leader, fell into the Rambler's Jaws, and
some old scores were settled then and
there.
Pluto came charging blindly in He saw
the White Pig and made for him, experience
telling him that hog will ran when a dog
is after it; but experience did him small
service here. The White Pig charged to
meet him, seeing which Pluto swerved to
one side, but he was not nimble enough
With r down ward swoop and an upward
sweep Of his snout the White Pig caught
Pluto under the shoulder with his tusk and