The Washington herald., 1911-09-03

fields, would send the skulking beast back
into the deep forests, where it belonged
But he vac much surprised when he came
to the cabin and found it empty, while the
dead embers and the chilly air proved that
ms parents had been gone at least all day.
however, 1t was not such unusual thing
Tor them to go for day or two over the
mountain to Buck Greek Settlement, where
his mothers brother, Uncle Lie" lived with
his family.
1T did seem kind of mean," he said, to
himself, as he went to work to start fire in
the WIDE fireplace, for them not to have
sent him word by Josh Tttebrew, who came
down to the valley the day before, so that he
need not have spent night all alone here on
the mountain. But 1t was too late to 60
back, and there was plenty of wood and q
cupboard full of good things to eat, so all he
had to do was 10 make the best Of things and
get to bed early and have good nights rest.
Then he could go on to the settlement or back
to the valley, as he chose i'll the morning
There was some cold roast wild turkey and
a mince pic among the other good things,
and, after hearty meal, Wise sat and gazed
into the fascinating play OF the flames az
they licked and curled around the logs of
white oak and chestnut
The quieting effects of the fire and his hearty
meal soon proved too much for the boy,
and he dropped off into a doze The only
security was the fact that old Mose-that he
knew could be trusted, in case any animals
came proving around at night, to drive them
away with his deep and savage barkng-was
not at home.
The deer hound always refused TO 60 away
from the house, except on hunting trips, when
the two other dogs, Tige and Yellow, went
along.
At other times, Nose seemed to feel it to
be his duty to stay and guard the house,
sleeping on ethe porch, where it would have
been very difficult for any intruder to pass
him
How it came that this time he had left the
house unprotected, Wise could not under
stand.
As he sat doing and dreaming, a sound in
the distance startled him. for no other dog
had such a deep voice as Nose; and that
surely must be him coming back.
How slowly he seemed to come, and what
strange, dismal howl he kept giving in place
OF his usual bark! AS he drew quite near,
Wise went to the door, and, throwing it
open, gave long, piercing whistle, that he
knew, the dog would recognize and which
would cause him to come bounding along at
a rapid run; but all the difference Wise no.
tlced was that the tone of the dogs bark
changed and became rather less mournful
No wonder, though, that his voice sounded
differently from its usual brave, joyful yelp
OF recognition; for, when at last he came
painfully lmping into the door, Wilse noticed
that one of his forelegs hung limp and useless
and his throat and breast were torn and
bleeding
All TINS W llse saw IN the bright moonlight
for it was almost impossible to induce the
dog to come into the cabin and near the fire
At last he succeeded in getting him in and
shutting the door, and then he went to work
washing the poor animals wounds and pre-
pairing TO bandage his leg, for Wise knew
right we'll how to look after his faithful com
panion in such an emergency.
Try as he would, however, he could not
get the hound to stand still nor remain in
one part OF the room. Continually breaking
away, and hmplng to the door, he would
scratch at it with his sound foreeg and howl
dismally; then he would come back to Wise,
pull his Jacket and trousers with his teeth,
and seem to be trying to get him to go out
side with him.
Such actions as these were nothing new to
the boy. lie knew that, as a usual thing,