The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-01-26
Tho Tale Of an Ugly Dog.

No he's let much to look at, but there
i,n't money enough In Uncle Sans treasury
to buy him, for know that while have
my "mongrel cur, as you call him, lives,
have my best friend with me.
SO spoke Harry Culver, whom had lst
overtsken on Fifth Avenue, We had been
college chums twenty years before, but
since those days had not met, as he had be-
come established In law In New York
while had gone to California to practise
medicine. We had however, kept up a
desultory correspondence, and now as |
left my hotel, almost the fiest person ]
saw was my old friend walking side by
side with the most sreputable-looklng cur
to be met In days travels.
WELL Hal, replied, that's lot Of money
and doubt IL the beast has yet seen light
that wouldn't part with for very small
fraction Of 1t. As you admit that he's mot
much to lock att, what makes him so
valusble 10 your eyesf
LIS rather long tale, Culver said, so
come up to my den II you wish to hear It,
! gladly consented /, the course OF q
few moments we were comfortably seated.
Now for the story, suggested.
Twas ab9u.ten years after we left college
Hal began. had been working very hard
here In town and along In O,tober decid-
ed to 20 into the Maine woods and have a
try at some big game. ! spent week In
the Moosehead country and was pretty
successful. OIe day | started cut with
only the dog, not meaning to 60 far, and
leaving the guide to pack up the spoils, as
we were to break camp the next day. !
trsmped on snd on, talli,g now and then
to the dog, who kept close beside me, when
presently | discovered deer tracks. OF
course my huntsmah's blood was up in an
instant, d on went, not realizing how
far was 2 tiing from camp, when fui-
denly bsclme aware that the sun, which
had been alI iug but feebly when | start
had entirely disappeared. Ia fact, Just at
that moment fow lig snog axes came
drifting down. ! stopped and tried to get
my bearings. | fortunately had left my
compass behind ard had no idea 10 which
direction lay the camp. ln very few
minutes the snow was coming down more
rapidly and strong wind WAS blowing.
decided that, 10 accordance with the old
maxim, "tbe l)rgeat way round" was the
"shortest way home" and began to re-
trace my steps. realiz then that must
be at least I'VE miles from camp, and ] con-
fcss the thppght Vas not plesgentl
The dog was sctiog qleeriy-snuffiag
the air, ~ lltg head 1T top speed, stop
ping, GROW i.n., ana returning to me, then
whining ali again staring to run.
thought thai the weather was worrying him
and so talked TO him as trGmped on. The
snow WAS falling fast, aed J realized with
growing aIxitty that ere long the deer
tracks we were fcliowing would be entire
ly obliteratcd. A. thst moment heard
as presum {. . :og bos the sound com
log from chesiiJn opposile TO tha. 10
which | vas lrY, stopped wondering
whether there wax another huater 10 dls-
trcss, or II was Itsr a camp. The
was Dos ffsn'l, 4 = moment there was
another bowl ten tao--ghree,--a bail
dczsu--ald ~ horrible truth came upon
me ailh a ia.h. We were being chased
by wolvst'
nsd Ufiy 4 lea e.rtrlcees with ne,
WIS hoay-n thiy kfew how many miles
from camp, Ala 8 bllnGing snowstofm
was rsgiag. ! wkAS petty sure that ths.
would be ny las; diA Aon earth, sLd de.
terninsd to die aztsAg; 20, eaiIlrg the
dog TO ue 10 AZ eteou sgiGg voice as |
could command, we s,aJei on a, our bts.,
the dog In The lend agaN was ling to be
led.
The hos lirg oi,tN pack grew louder ard
louder. | though, ,hs, II they should ge,