Year: 1867

Conclusion.


81 pulled out my revolver, hardly
abating my speed, clipped the safety
stop, and made for little thicket Of jrl-
niper some fifty yards in front; for now
the cruel 'yapping' sounded closor and
closer, and it seemed as if hundreds OF
savage beasts were at my heels: II
could not stop them so as to- gain little
time, / must be torn to pieces in min
ute. Suddenly facing them as l reach
ed the juniper, and instinctively remem-
bering the direction to fire low which
you gave me, you know, Elliot, l shot
of each barrel quick as lightning, then
rushed on again. That l had killed
some, at all events, was evident by the
growing and fighting of the Others over
tire dead ones. | knew that the dogs,
nova days, were never known to de-
scend to the valleys until driven by ac-
tual starvation, and, also, that when
hungry they did not scruple to eat the
dead of their own kind; so ran on, at
the same time reloading the pistol, my
hope being that by firing among the
pack might gain the time they took
while they stopped to devour those
which were killed.


Glow it was, Idon't know; l suppose
every one has felt the same when tbs
first brunt of a great danger has been
endured, and one remains for the mo-
ment still in safety; but as ran, | felt
reckless courage, and q, so to speak,
determination not to be killed, take
possession of me. On went, my pace
a little slackened, for / feared my
strength would hardly hold out; and 1
was congratulating myself upon the
precious minutes l was gaining, when
heard single 'yapp' so close behind,
that an agony of terror put for the mo-
ment my late courage to fight, and l
almost fell down paralysed, as, turning
my head, / saw two glaring eyes within
yard of me. In less time, however,
than it takes to tell you, Irevived again,
fired, and, waiting only to see that the
dog was disabled, struggled on once
more; and now, only lew yards from
the trees, / was looking to see which
would be the best to make for, when the
pack came ON again in full cry. Alas!
there was no juniper here for defence
for my back, and l knew all must be
lost if they once got to close quarters;
so | turned again, let off all the barrels
pretty nearly at random, and then made
the last effort l felt would be possible,
for was well-nigh exhausted, and at
last reached the trees.


'How scrambled up one of them l
don't know, and what became of me for
awhile don't know; l fancy lost con-
sciousness altogether, but when / came
to myself, and looked down on the sea
of glaring eyes below, it was almost
more than l could endure. Yet it. was
evident they could not reach me, leap
and Jump as they might; and all the
tales had heard of creatures gnawing
trees down in which their prey was
seated, firmly believe to be pure fic-
ton, so that all had to do to be safe,
appeared, after all, to sit still where l
was.


"But how long' had only three car
tridges left. could not be sure of the
number of dogs in the pack, but there
were upwards of fifty at least, and
whether they only attacked at night, or
were equally savage during the day, l
knew not. But even should they re-
main long, which was not probable
when once they found that their prey
was out of reach, remembered that you
would be sure to come to my help when
YOU found had not returned; and was
comforting myself with this assurance,
when it flashed through me that you
would as likely as not come without
your guns, and if you did, nothing
could save you. This was the worst of
all, and as sat thinking of it the cold
dews of helpless dread gathered on my
face, and put back the shrill whistle
which l always carried when wander
ing alone, and which was just going to
blow, lest it should give too true clue
to my place of refuge.


"How long sat crouched among the
branches of that friendly cork tree,
turning these hopes and fears over in
my mind, hardly know. 1t must have
been an hour at least, for the moon had
travelled over the valley, and was set
ting behind the snowy mountains be-
yond, when from the opening gorge,
mentioned before, there came shout
knew the voice we'll, Elliot, and wait
ed without answering, lest you should
be alone. / think the few minutes of
suspense which followed were more in
tolerable than anything which had yet
happened! But very soon there came
another shout, and then several voices
together, and almost at the same mo-
ment the glare of torches, as the whole
party of men turned into the valley.
The relief was too great. l tried to
shout, too, but my voice died away in
my throat. l tried my whistle now,
but the sound produced was too feeble
to be heard far away. At last by a
bright thought, ] fired off my three re-
naming cartridges, and then-you
know better what happened and what
became of me than do myself


What happened and what became OF
Mrs. Hardinge, was as follows


As we neared the grove of cork trees
so often alluded to in the above recital,
and to which we were directed by the
sound of the pistol, the pack of dogs
left their unsatisfactory employment OF
gazing ut the food which was unattain.
able, and came en- sasse to attack ms.
But We were prepared for them, and
they received two or three volleys so well
directed and telling, that after coming
at us once again, they betOok them.
selves to the shelter Of the brushwood
on each side tie valley. / said we were
prepared for them, for returning home
from our expedition about an hour be.
fore, We were met by q peasant who
told US that he and some Others had seer
the FIRST pack of wild dogs remembered
for upwards of thirty years, descending
from the High Pyrenees towards thest


valleys; and as they certainly were moi
far away, it was not safe to be out, un
less in q party and well armed, for they
were desperately savage; they hat
doubtless been driven from their lair.