Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-10-08
CHAprER xXII.-(Continued.)

All at once the hounds took up new
cry, and no longer gave vent to the long,
drawn bay, but this had been supplanted
by short, eager barks Of fierce satisfae'
ton.
Jacks face turned 9 trihe pale and he
shut his teeth hard together. but his eyes
flashed. and his frame secIhed to become
firm as rock.
Either the hounds had been suffered TO
90 free, or else they had slipped the leash'
at any rate they were untramlneled by
masters, and were racing along after the
fUgitiyes. rapidly coming up with them.
He had had much experience with
bloodhounds in he South, and Knew
there was bat one remedy for It. Fer
haps after all 1t would be for the best,
for the hounds once out Of the way. their
pursuers would have no means OF hndlnS
ont whore they had gone, not being sklA-
ed in following a trail, yet 1t was Tar
from a pleasant task the young man mad
before him.
Nora speedily comprehended the truth,
for she saw that something bad occurred
60 give her lover a start. and soon reeog-
nized the difference in tfe sounos 'fch o.
them.
Nearer and nearer came the dread
sounds. and il was evident that Inc
hounds. knowing they were fast 2YertaA-
ing the fuEitiyes, were anxious tor the
carnival Of blood.
AT last the ferocious hounds were so
near that their sharp banks seemed to
ill the wood full Of echoes, and Jack
could even hear them ddshing through the
underground.
The time for action had come. Quickly
he put Nora among the lower branches OF
a tree, and took up his station beside IT.
Not q second too soon was this done. for
out from the bushes sprang an enormous
dur-colorcd hound.
The beast crouchcd at sight of him. and
uttered low. terribly fierce growl. Even
In the moonlight it could be seen that the
hound was a ferocious brute, black about
fhe muzzle and with two rows Of sug-
gestive white teeth showing behind as he
curled his lips
His blazing eyes were fastened upon
Jack, and it was evident that. Ike pam
ther. he was crouchiug in order to make a
fatal leap Knowing the nature of the
brutes so well, the young man was well
aware Of the fact that the time for &C
tion had come. all that Il he delayed now
all might indeed be lost.
Taking a keen aim, he fired. There
was q sharp yelp, and, as the little cloud
of white smoke was swept away by the
wind. the hound was seen writing in
The agonies Of death.
The bullet mad done its work Again
the hammer was raised. and just in time,
FOR once more the bushes were parted.
and the form Of another dog sprang into
view.
Like the first one, at sight Of the foe
he came to a sudden halt. and, crouchine
for a spring, gnashed his teeth IL fury
That pause short though it was, proved,
fatal to the terrible hound.
Again Jacks weapon sounded. His.
nerves were Of steel, aud nothing could.
have exceeded his coolness for he real.
lied all there was at stake
When a few seconds LATER this little
cloud Of smoke was blown aside 1t re-
vealed the second hound lying across the
body OF the first and yet third terri
Die animal in the act Of flying through the
bushes
Once more the bloody tragedy had to be
repeated, but this time, for some cause or
other, he failed to deal out a death shot.
and, wounded as the brute was, il made
the leap.
Even while the animal was passing
through Llidair the young man fired again,
and when the animal struck it was with
in two feet of him. so that he actually
poured his third charge down the ami
mails red throat as it disteuded its jaws
ready to seize upon him
That was enough. Flesh and blood
couid stand no more. and the terrible
hooking animal sank back even at his
feet. dead
Leaving the dead hounds who's they
lay. the two once more fastened on. Jack
with his arm thrown protecdne}y around
his companion, His love fer her was Of
that deep. chNalrous nature that wor-
ships its object
Once they heard chorus of savage
cries. and know that thcir pursuers had
discovered the dead hounds, but after
that all was wrapped in the most impen-
etrable silence. They were safe.
There s'il remained the mission TO
which both Jack and she were ready 10
devote their lives, and after this tcrr.ble
experience at the bands of Doctor Grim
il may be readily i'm Siuea that tAey
were even IGere earnest Ia thair Work
than ever before
Jack and Nora Warner finally reached
the house they had been aiming for. Her,
he had formed his arrangements before
going 10 She asylum, and his gold ba,
made sJaneb friends Of the cott3ser an,
his old crouc Of a wife
They were warmly welcomed, "a ~ooi