Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-03-14

some cabin that had tumbled to pieces
through the lapse Of time and the wear
Of weather.
With that instructive longing to de-
fer the final calamity ran swiftly
across the open space to the pile Of logs,
where paused, revolver in hand. and
looked back. Since a meeting with the
dog was inevitable there could be no
better place than the logs in the middle
Of the clearing.
"The men must be some distance be.
hind him--ah''
Matters went with rush. I had not
stood more than three minutes, painting,
at bay when the hound burst into sight
on the edge of the clearing and charged
straight for me like meteor.
The true bloodhound Is not Of large
size, but satan himself could not possess
q moro hideous front, while his strength
is prodigious. A dusky Hercules corner
ed by one of those black demons has
Drained him with club when he made
his leap OF he has slit,ed his throat with
q knife at close quarters, but the chances
are always the other way. None knew
better than l that in hand to hand
struggle / would be as helpless as
against the assault Of panther. But
my revolver contained three charges.
In the clear starlight the dog caught
sight OF me at the same instant that /
saw him. He emitted peculiar cry and
rushed across the open space as IL shot
from q catapult.
stood rs rigid as iron. Ny panic had
vanished, and never was cooler in my
life. Before the hound was half way TO
me I leveled my weapon and held my
finger on the trigger until he was hardly
FIVE yards distant. Then let fly.
/ made the statement at the opening
OF this story that was an expert with
the revolver. as my numerous friends
of the Seventh regiment will testify,
but never made prettier bullseye
than on that October night in n Missis-
sippi swamp, when / sent bullet into
the brain Of the bloodhound that was
charging for my throat. 1t entered his
skull between the eyes, and. ranging
downward. must have plowed through
his heart, my theory being based upon
the consequences Of the shot.
The dog uttered u rasping howl, and
leaping straight pp in the air for six or
eight feet dropped ON his side, rolled
over. furiously clawing the ground and
air. and then lay motionless, as dead as
Julius Cesar.
Ny fear was that he had companions
Of his own species. II so, there could be
no better place than the present to have
ID ont with them. II could maintain
my craftsmanship, / was good for two
more.
But intense listening for two or
three minutes failed to bring another
sound Of the nature dreaded. Ii was evi.
dent that only single hound had been
used nj this stage Of the business. A
few hours would doubtless bring u
change.
But heard something else that was
TO be dreaded with an equal dread. 1t
was the sound made by at least two
men as they hurried through the swamp
toward the spot whence sounded the
shot Of the revolver and the death cry
Of the dog. One at least had Winches-
ter. against which my smaller weapon
was useless. had no wish to meet Cy
Walters, and. leaping down from the
log ON which | had been standing,
darted for the opposite side Of the clear
ing. with the knowledge that not a mo-
ment was to be lost.
Great as was my haste IL was within
Q second Of being too late. for the men
who vera pursuing me hot footed were
closer than suspected. Being from un-
der the protecting shadow Of the trees,
| was in plain sight as reached the
other side Of the clearing at the moment
the leading pursuer emerged from the
wood. An unexpected complication
saved me from being winged before
could plunge into shelter.
There were three men after me, Cy
Walters. Archie Hunter and the owner
of the bloodhound that had just finished
his last hunt for flying fugitive. lt so
happened that the bereaved dog owner
was in the lead, he probably being het-
ter acquainted with the peculiarities OF
his animal, but the others were only n
short distance behind.
The sigh, Of the motiouless form on
the ground filled the man with ire
strainable rage. With an imprecation,
he bounded forward and paused over
the carcass, as il 10 make sure Of the
truth. A glance was sufficient. Then,
Winchester in hand, he glared around
for sight of the one who had done the
deed
He was in time to catch sight OF my
vanishing form, as he brought his gun
to his shoulder, while Walters and
Hunter had just dashed into the clear
ing. Casting one glance over my shoul-
der, I leaped among the trees and lodged
to one side with my head bent low, as
the bullet whistled over ME.
But had not yet shaken of my pur,
suers, and the chase was on once more
with redoubled vigor.
CHAPTER XI.