The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-05-11
whistle. ! made my way directly to-

WdTIb inc rOuuus
Soon heard the whistle more clear
ly. and. believing IL came from near
the canal, dashed straight down to IL,
jumped the hedge by the side of the
towing path, and looked round for
my wife. Ii was now so dark that
could not see very clearly; but | no.
ticed something white on the farther
bank of the canal a little higher up.
/ rushed up the towing path. and. now
thoroughly alarmed. called out,
Eleanor, are You there?" To my
great relief she answered, "Yes; here
I am, over on this side. Come over
here il you can. The canal Is quite
shallow"
/ waded across-the water coming
nearly up 20 my neck-and found my
wife lying on the canal bank. dripping
with water. In the water near by
floated the dead body of Bruce.
Eleanor was terribly white and faint:
so, without further question, picked
her up. Half carrying her, assisted
her along the canal TO the nearest
bridge, and so we found our way
home
We arrived about nine o'clock. and
I was relieved TO find my wife not
much the worse after all. A hot bath
and good dinner soon put us both
to rights. II was only after dinner
that / asked her what had occurred
that caused her 10 be in the con-
dtion in which l discovered her on
the canal bank, and how Bruce Lad
been drowned.
The following is her startling ac-
count OF what happened:
"When you had gone found N.Y.
self pretty lonely; but I managed TO
amuse myself fairly well, pottering
about the garden in the morning and
in arranging flowers and so on after
| lunch.
after tea I really needed some ex-
ercise. Thinking stroll along the
towing path Of the canal would be
nice, as il would be sure TO be dry
there, set off, taking Bruce with me,
fancying he would like some exercise.
too. was not sure that he would fol-
low me. but he did so, though in
rather n shrinking sort OF way, be-
cause, as imagined, was carrying a
dog-whip, as you advised. While go
ing through the wood | kept a care
full eye on him, but though we dis
turbed two or three rabbits, he never
looked at them.
eve were near the canal when the
idea struck me suddenly that Bruce
was cycling me very curiously, so !
stopped and looked at him. when he
glared and showed his teeth.
81 felt rather alarmed, but believing
IL wise not to show any sign of fear,
| walked on till / got TO the towing
path. Just then / heard n savage
growl behind me. Turning round,
saw Bruce, with all his hackles up.
coming at me, growing and showing
his teeth. / cracked the whip TO I'M
timidate him, and said, Down, sir!'
~ sternly as l could; but he dashed
straight nj me and snapped at my
legs. Fortunately he only cnught
hold of my skirt and tore 1t before
beat him off.
~ was terribly frightened by this
time, and screamed out, but nobody
was within sight or hearing. Bruce
attacked me again, and again / beat
him off with the whip; but / felt this
could not last long. Then ii occurred
to me that II l could get across the
canal he might not follow me. l
slipped quickly down the bank into
the water, which | knew was not very
deep, and started TO wade across to
the other side. Bruce dashed in after
t.. AT. IL
he was at disadvantage in the water,
and j could now beat him off easily.
"1hen he retired to the bank, and
stood there watching me and growl-
ing. | now tried to go en- across the
canal. lt was deeper than / expected,
and | dared not go where the water
reached much above my waist. / was
feeling terribly cold and miserable,
and was very much afraid / should
faint.
'Bruce evidently thought I was es-
Gaping, and came in after me again.
Then happy thought struck me.
why not try 10 drown him?' AS he
came at me this time, instead OF
hitting him with the whip, l waited
till he was quite close, and then
caught hold of his collar and forced
his head under the water. The collar
slipped round, and he. struggled SO
much and scratched my arm so with
his claws that had to let go. Then
he scrambled ashore and again sat
watching me and growing.
81 could not stand in the canal for
ever, so l summoned up my courage
20 go on across. Bruce was up again,
and dashed at me more furiously
than ever. Again | caught him by
the collar, but this time seized hold
OF some OF the skin on the back OF his
neck as well, and exerting all my
strength, ! forced his head under the
water and held il there. He struggled
so frantically that / was afraid I
should never be able TO hold him;
but gradually his struggles became
. weaker, and | knew he was drowning.