THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



eral shots were fired; one of the men tried to 

 seize me; Jack flew at his throat, and they both 

 fell to the ground. There was an awful con- 

 fusion of curses, shots, and entreaties to call 

 the dog off, amidst which I heard distinctly, 



" I'll be killed! It's Rawlings' d n brute! " 



"Shut up, you fool, we killed him!" "It's 

 him ! Come on ! " 



The two men, still on their feet, seemed 

 frightened, and Jack's man yelled madly and 



imploringly to me to call off the " 



Rawlings dog," promising to go if I would. 

 Well, I did, fearing for the dogs, but for the 

 first time Jack was slow to obey, and when he 

 did, it was only for a second or two, then he 

 flew after the rushing figures, which fled across 

 the orchard to a rig which stood in the road. 

 There was another battle between the dogs 

 and the men, who eventually succeeded in get- 

 ting off just as Sidney and Mr. Fred, who had 

 been awakened by the shots and cries, arrived 

 on the scene. 



Poor Rover was shot in the throat, and 

 355 



