128 THE PINE-TREE, OR 



I could scarcely cling to him. Yet that blessed sound came near 

 er and nearer I Oh how wildly beat my heart as I saw the hound 

 emerge from the ravine, and spring forward with a short, quick 

 bark, as his eye rested on his game I I released my hold of the 

 stag, who turned upon the new enemy. Exhausted, and unable 

 to rise, I still cheered the dog that, dastard like, fled before the 

 infuriated animal, who, seemingly despising such an enemy, again 

 threw himself upon me. Again did I succeed in throwing my 

 arms around his antlers, but not until he had inflicted several 

 deep and dangerous womids upon my head and face, cutting to 

 the very bone. 



" Blinded by the flowing blood, exhausted and despairing, I 

 cursed the coward dog, who stood near, baying furiously, yet re- 

 fusing to seize his game. Oh I how I prayed for Bravo I The 

 thoughts of death were bitter. To die thus in the wild forest, 

 alone, with none to help I Thoughts of home and friends coursed 

 like lightning through my brain. At that moment, when Hope 

 herself had fled, deep and clear over the neighboring hill came 

 the baying of my gallant Bravo I I should have known his voice 

 among a thousand. I pealed forth, in one faint shout, ' On, Bravo, 

 on !' The next moment, with tiger-like bounds, the noble dog 

 came leaping down the declivity, scattering the dried autumnal 

 leaves like a whirlwind in .his path. ' No pause he knew,' but, 

 fixing his fangs in the stag's throat, he at once commenced the 

 struggle. 



" I fell back, completely exhausted. Blinded with blood, I 

 only knew that a terrific struggle was going on. In a few mo- 

 ments all was still, and I felt the warm breath of my faithful 

 dog as he licked my wounds. Clearing my eyes from gore, I 

 saw my late adversary dead at my feet, and Bravo, ' my own 

 Bravo,' as the heroine of a modern novel Avould say, standing 

 over me. He yet bore around his neck a fragment of the rope 

 with which I had tied him. He had gnawed it in two, and, fol- 



