Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-07-12
A Water Cure.

|
Down by the bathhouses on the marsh
two bulldogs sat waiting ir the morning
sunshine for their masters TO come out
for swim in the overflowing creek that
swired along between green banks oi
waving grasses. The dogs were on op-
posite sides OF the baihhouSes, so intently
watching the swallows flying over and
suddenly swooping down among the
grasses that they had not discovered each
others presence. II they had, there
surely would have been trouble, for they
were not well enough acquainted TO be al
all friendly. and there was no doubt that
the white dog was quarrelsome.
The brindle, RastuS, had never been
down on the marsh before, for ever since
his arrival at the Sea Rivers Club week
before, his master, John, had been very
careful to leave him Shutup in the cottage
whenever the white dogs master asked
him 10 60 swimming with the other boys.
But this morning the white one, Mike by
name, had gone off early TO the station
with his master, Avery, and when the
boys invited John TO 60 down with them
or a swim, there seemed 10 be no reason
why Rastus should not have swim,
too.
But Avery came back sooner than the
boys had expected, and, not knowing
that Rastus was down by the creek, he
hurried along with Mike at his heels, 10
have his bath with the others.
John got ready first and came out. He
did not notice the white dog lying on
Avery's sweater. He threw stick far
out on the marsh for the bnndle TO fetch.
But Mike saw the stick hurled through
the air, and he, too, set off 10 fetch it.
Both dogs reached the spot where the
stick fell at the same moment; but instead
OF trying 10 get il, they forgot the stick,
and each caught the other by the jaws in
true bulldog fashion.
John was frightened, for Avery had
told him what a ferocious fighter the
white dog was. He called TO the boys
in the lighthouses. They all came run
ming and shouted 10 the dogs, some try
ing to call them back, some trying 10 urge
them on.
But Avery had no desire for a fight
between the two dogs He did not care
10 try 10 pull them apart, and he knew
that he could not make Mike lei 90 mere
ly by telling him 10 do so. John had
never seen Rastus fight, and he did not
want 10 have Mike get the better OF him,
as he was sure would be the case il all
that Avery had told of his provinces
were true. But he was sure that RaStus
would never let 60 until he was beaten.
What could be done?
Avery had an idea. He took John by
the arm and told him what was 10 be
done as they ran along 10 where the dogs
were growing and grimly holding 10
each others jaws, near the creek.
Before the dogs had time TO understand
what was happening, eacn boy seized
his own dog by the collar with one hand
and by the tail with the other and swung
them, tightly locked together, splash
into the middle of the creek.
That was the end OF the battle. The
dogs let 90 and swan ashore. Neither
looked at the other. Mike, at Avery's
stern command, started dripping wet
toward home aud Rastus, after shaking
himself vigorously, shiveringly obeyed
his masters when he motioned for him
TO lie down on the boat landing,
During the rest Of the summer the two
bulldogs showed no signs OF ever seeing
each other. Although they lived side by
side, no one ever heard so much as a
growI from either ofthem. Their masters
no longer tried 10 keep them apart, and
both dogs went wherever the boys went.
They seemed TO have agreed 10 have no
dealings with each other after their first
and only fight.