The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-12

IL a strong man, can stretch out six
teen fathom of wet ratline stuff and
SEND the end over the shoulders of a
maj ready to catch it; and the rea-
son Is that he uses a round arm throw
instead Of the overhead motion Of ball
players That misguided terrier was
just about the weight of a wet heav-
ing line, and he went straight to the
target. He struck Sinful in the legs.
almost ursetting him; and gripping
the Immaculate trousers with his teeth
held on, growing angrily. and endeav-
orlnS to make better his grip.
Hit him with the dogs yelled the
marksman, and he captured another
u and sent him flying. knock him
off the wall with the dogs. They'll
tend to him Outside'.
Immediately there was another
scramble, and dog after dog was run
down, captured n hurled at the
tormentor on the wall. He was not
laughing now, nor was he whistling,
nor was he very happy: he was vainly
pounding the bull dog with his fists
and trying to loosen his hold and
when another brute. struck him in the
chest. knocking him to his knees. he
remained in that position. while the
second dog-a hugh yellow mongrel of
unkind diSpoSition-Secured a foothold
II yapped and snapped at his arms.
To escape the assault he arose to his
feet and kicked, and at this instant a
third yelping cur struck him. With
but n foot on the wall. he went over
easily. flOundered in Il heap on the
ground with the bull dog still fast to.
him. and the third dog close by with
as large a sense of injury as that pos
sessed by the other two: then, as he
arose. unhurt. 20 his feet, the yellow
dog danced Town the ladder and the
battle was reSumed to the accompani-
ment of jubilant bouts from within.
Many dogs had missed in their up
ward flight, and such as these as We're
not hoWllng in pain, were eager for
retaliation. Sinful became the center
of a snarling, barking circle of brutes.
brave because of their numbers. and
eager for his destruction. The cloth
soon parted in the bull dogs mouth,
and temporarily free of his encum-l
brance. he kicked and shouted. maxi
ing his way slowly along the wall to|
the town, II looking anXiouSly in the
gathering for a stick or al
stone. But in the muddy, alluVial soil
of Shanghai there are few such con-
Veniences, and he could only fight with
MS thln-Soled patent feathers. Oncel
he went down, rolling in the mud
with the pack Surging above him; but
though bitten in a dozen spots now
he found strength to shake them off
49, 49, liz IIllCS o1I Ii
cumbersome overcOat and fought on
the better for it's loss. A few of theI
dogs tore it in shredS and then rel
sumed attentions to him. They soonI
had reduced his Albert frock to thel
same condition; his hat was gone hisI
face, hands and linen covered With
mud and blood. Slowly, with waningI
strength, but undiminshed pluck, heI
fought them down to the hedge 'front.'
ing the lawn of the next estate-a lowl
redSe from which the lawn rose in al
succession of terraces to the house,
And now. from the veranda of thiSj
house came a deep-toned, ~roaringl
bark, and looking, Sinful beheld al
monster black brute, larger than mostI
great Danes, bounding down the lawn.j
oh, my God, I'm lone for now,"l
he groaned and fought o~n-hopeless-i
", for there was no one from thel
to call back the big brute. andi
the soldier, even We're he aware of theI
trouble, could not leave his post. Butt
as the roaring, growing animal clear-
ed the hedge at a bound, and squared
himself around for a charge, there|
came to Sinful an inspiration of des-I
peration.
pointing at his assistants. GO forI
EN-, Tiger-sic 'em, Kaiser, Go forI
EN-, good old boy! Take 'em. Towser.
take 'emi"
There is no knowing what was inl
the mind of that big dog-whether hel
had heard his name and, accustomed
to do as he was bid by one Speakingl
1t merely Obeyed orders, or whether,
like many large dogs, he felt a deepl
n abiding sympathy for the undert
dog and acted upon his sympathy
Certain it is. however, that he struck
that Snarling herd like a whirlwind.j
killed the bull dog with one mighty
bite of his powerful Jaws, flung an
other twenty feet. and as he made forI
q third. the whole pack took to fight.l
Back they went toward the compound
in a storm of mud. yelping in fear,
by the big, black hero-whol
brought down four while Sinful could
then-and scattered for safety in
the paddy field beyond.
The little man lOked himself over
twisting his joints and muscles. All
were in working order: he hurriedI
along until in front of the next house.
and here h0 paused to look back. His
big preServer had returned and wasl
cycling him from his own gateway asI
though half-minded to come and in
vestigate him.
Much obliged. old man." called Sim
bowling low with a CHASTITY smile.
I'm ever SO much obliged to you. butt
I won't wait here. I'm in a great
hurry. and I hope to meet you againI
some time under better auspices. Good
bye. Ever so much obliged"
hen he ran as. perhaps. ne neveri