The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-05-28
above which rose the shrlll sdueaia

ABOVE which rose the shrill squealn
OF the pig. Carl had chung TO the
stick, and, half-rising, he laid about
vigorously, and soon had a circle
cleared, round which the hogs stood
with swapping, foaming jaws.
In this moment OF relief he saw
that Mark had reached the fence. He
sprang toward the hogs that stood
between this and him, and beat them
over the head. They gave way, and
he started to run, when he was
)erked back by something that tugged
at his hand.
In the excitement he had slipped a
finger through the ring in the end
OF the chain and could not withdraw
1t. He was chained to the pigi The
danger OF the situation really came
to the boy now for the first time. He
struggled madly to release his finger.
but the ring had slipped over the
knuckle, and his struggles only
served to blacken and discoIor the
finger.
II he was to escape he would have
to fight his way through. He could
not run. The pain in his finger from
the continually Juggling of the pig
was becoming excruciating. Slowly
he moved toward the fence, now
about hundred yards distant, drag
cling the pig. The drove of hogs
moved with him in a solid and con-
stantly narrowing circle.
To increase his difficulties, the dis
tracted pig began to run about him,
winding his legs in the chain and
threatening to overthrow him. Carl
was becoming terror-stricken, frantic.
He struck hog which was disputing
his way, and saw his stick fly to
pieces. He looked up and cried aloud
In terror. The fence was so near, yet
he could not reach it.
He could see Mark running about
eXcitedly on the other side of
the fence and-whistling? Yes.
whistling. He was calling Mack.
Carl turned eagerly toward the
house and his heart gave a great
bound. Help was coming! Up the
long slope that led from the house
Mack was coming like an arrow sped
from bow. Would he be in time?
Carl turned and began to kick
sayagely at the hogs. The frightened
pig ran between his legs, and whirled
about, wrapping him hopelessly in
the chain. He struggled to keep his
footing, but fell under the rush of the
hogs. For brief moment they ran
over him, and he covered his face
with his hands, expecting with each
breath to feel their teeth. Then to
his amazement they left him, and he
was lying alone in the sunshine, un-
molested. Even the pig had escaped
by freeing itself from the trap.
The explanation for this came from
an uproar at one side. In the midst
OF the drove Mack was spinning like
top, swapping right and left. a
bleeding snout here and an ear there
showing that these leaps were not
futile. At last the dog made a Iunge
at particularly large hog, and fas-
tened so securely that his hold could
not be broken. The squeals of the
victim sent the entire drove fleeing
in terror down the hill.
Carl got up slowly, crossed the
fence, and sat down. The world
seemed to be travelling round in a cir
Gle. Mark, the clouds, the trees and
the two pals of berries all seemed a
part of huge merry-go-round
I'm glad you didn't spill them"
he said, thickly. Grandma"
Then it suddenly became Dark.
When he opened his eyes again
he was in the cool north bedroom.
and his grandmother was rubbing his
forehead with arnica.-Youth's Com
panion.