The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-10-25

ufaWlng my knlIe as ran, cut tue an
imal down. Then / turned and faced
the Basque.
/ suppose he thought was armed
which 1 was not-for he did not take
up the gage Of battle, but stared at me
/ fiercAly out Of bloodshot eyes. The dog
hobbled away to short distance, shock
off the reata with which its legs were
ensnarled, and, crouchiDg low, watch
ed US.
"Come," I said in Spanish, "why
should you kill your dog? You have
drunk too much aguardiente. To-mor-
row you will be glad that saved his
life"
He emitted a strange sound through
his teeth and lips. 1t was very much
like the snarl of wolf.
"If you do not care for the dog, will
you sell him?' asked.
mo" he replied with an oath. "I
will not sell him. mean to kill him. 4"
Every we'll" / said. If you wish to
take the animals life, shoot him, but
you shall not beat him TO death"
The Basque turned toward the hut,
muttering imprecations alternately
against the dog and myself. When he
came to the door he called to the dog:
"Demonio! Come herep'
The animal eyed him, but did not
move. Then the herder disappeared
from view in the dark interior of the
howell
l remOunted and continued on my
way down the trail. had gone about
a hundred yards, when suddenly there
was q crashing in the ehaparral be-
hind, and 1 wheeled hastily around to
discover the dog. He had followed, ev-
identity for the purpose of making my
acquaintance, and to thank me for the
rescue.
called to him and patted the side of
my saddle, meaning that he should
come where L might touch him. He
started TO obey, but as he approached
nearer my horse gave a violent snort
and began to shy away from him. The
act surprised me not little, for the an
imal was a stolid old bronco that rarely
started at anything, least Of all at
dog. The dog stopped his advance and
watched us, while struggled to bring
the horse nearer to him and to calm his
very evident terror. But my efforts
were unavailing, though | used my
whip and spur and threw all my
strength on the bride. The horse
would not allow the dog to touch him.
For some strange cause he even trem-
bled in his presence. AT last gave up
the undertaking and examined the
Basque's companion from little dis
tance.
He was considerably larger than the
average collie. | imagine that he must
have had some Newfoundland, or, per-
haps, st. Bernard blood : the sheep
dogs of California are rarely of pure
breed. His hair was short, curly, and
black as night. He squAtted on his
launches and looked steadily at me
during all the time that was occupied
in making this survey, and when, at
last, / spoke to him, he lifted his ears
little, but made no other movement.
"Demonr' / said; sis that your
name-DemoniO?
AT first thought that the name had
been given him because he was dark
in color, as the popular belief paints an
evil spirit. But a moment later, when
my eyes rested upon his, l SAVIOR, per-
haps, / should say felt-that there
might be some further reason. / scarce
ly know how to describe the effect that
his steady gaze produced upon me. 1t
was at first merely an impression that
this dog was different from any Of his
species that had ever known before
then a conviction that something was
wrong-and, lastly, an uncomfortable
terror. These sensations followed one
another in quick succession-almOst in
flash; and without stopping to ask
myself any questions, ! gave my horse
free rein, and we went plunging head
long down the trail.
Once again In the open plain, l tried
to deceive myself into thinking that my
terror had been only apprehension lest
the Basque should come upon me from
b.hind. The rapid descent of the twi-
IL Izht and the peculiar behavior Of the
b lrse had, / assured myself, served to
hsighten the effect of this dread.
A few days later, when ! passed the
hut, the herder and his dog, In their
usual attitudes, stared at me, sullen and
silent. / looked closely at the dogs
face, but could see nothing beyond
keen animal intelligence.
Several months passed.
One morning, as / went out toward
the corral, one of the men employed
on the ranch came to me and said:
al believe that something has hap
pened to that crazy Basque sheep herd
er. His dog came here last night and
would not go away"
"What, Demon?" / said, and as l
spoke the animal came running up. i
patted his head and talked to him, but
he jumped about uneasily, as though
he were anxious to be gone.
/ suggested to the man that We should
ride to the canyon, and mounting, we
followed the dog out into the road. He
ran along several rods in advance of US,
looking back occasionally to make sure
that we were coming. When the can
yon was reached, his pace slackened,
and some distance from the hut he stop
ped and fell in behind us
"He breads beating" said /.
From the trail we called to the hut,
and receiving no answer, we rode to
the door and looked in.
There lay the Basque in the middle
of the floor, his arms outstretched, and
his head thrown back-dead.
An uncared-for corpse is salways dis
agreeable object to look upon, but some
thing had happened to this one that
rendered it impossible for me to give 1t
more than one quick glance. l hastily
turned my horses head away, and rode
omar tovard the enot uhera the dog