The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-08-09


post or a tree. But he is none
the less dangerous because his violence
is not deliberate. In one of his mad
rushes Max might pin me down and
tear me to pieces.
How | longed for the brakeman's
hobnailed tread and cheerful whistle!
But he did not pass overhead; and the
train was making too much noise for
me TO hail the caboose.
"Stupor succeeded frenzy. Max
stood quiet, with hanging head. I
watched him apprehensively. Speedy
bleeding was, l realized, the only thing
that would prevent the phrenitis from
terminating fatally. l feared to APP
proach him, however, for in two or
three seconds he might again become
a dangerous maniac Yet ! must seize
the earliest opportunity for drawing
the blood away from his brain; for not
only did the prospect of saving his
life lessen with every minute, but each
fresh paroxysm exposed me anew to
deadly peril.
AN idea came to me. Keeping close
watch on the horse, l unlocked my
hammock and ilooped it over my left
armand not an instant too soon.
"Rousing with a start, Max scream
ed ferociously, and plunged toward
me. He reared on his hind legs, a lit
tie more, and | should have been crush
ed under his hoofs. But again his
skull collided with the ceiling, and he
was hurled upon the straw. Before
he could rise / flung myself on his
neck realizing that the critical mo-
ment had come, and began to wind
the hammock folds round and round
his head and jaws. 1t was no time for
mistake or miscalculation. l worked
hard, for | knew how much was at
stake
Never shall 1 forget those few ter
rible minutes. With my whole weight
thrown upon the animals throbbing
neck, my face pressed down close to
his hot skin, and my arms almost torn
from their sockets by the violence with
which he wrenched his head from side
to side, I kept tight hold of the ham
mock ends. Once let him clear his
strong jaws from those entangling
folds and my life was not worth
picayune
His hoofs beat a mad tattoo upon
the floor. His gnashing teeth spatter-
ed me with foam-fecks as he champed
and tore at the stout hemp. It's wind
ings were growing looser; a few more
wrenches, and they would be off.
Hope was slipping from me, when
his muscles suddenly relaxed, and his
head dropped forward The stupor had
come on again; I should never have
better opportunity. Letting go the
ends of the hammock, I pulled out my
penknife, ran my fingers along vein
which could feel swelling in his neck,
and punctured it with the tip of the
smallest blade. The hot blood came
streaming out and formed a little pool
on the floor of the car.
Was the operation in time to save
the animals life? | rewound the ham
mock about his jaws, and waited. Be-
fore he reused again a considerable
amount of blood had drained Off His
struggles were appreciably weaker, and
had no difficulty in controlling him.
The fight was won.
Before long we rolled into another
town. When we stopped l was able
to attract the brakeman's attention,
and summon a veterinary We spent
that night in the car, working over
Max, and between us managed to
bring him round, although he was a
good deal weakened by his loss of
blood. The next day l delivered him,
safe and sane to his new owner."-
Youths Companion.