16 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



Wliile standing quietly on deck, I heard a tremen- 

 dous uproar in the steerage ; men swearing, women 

 screaming, children crying, made a chorus enough to 

 split one's ears. I jumped down for fear of missing 

 some fun, and was gre.eted by the most comical sight : 

 every one had taken refuge on the highest sleeping 

 places, on the tops of chests, boxes, or any other eleva- 

 tions, to be clear of the floor, which was taken posses- 

 sion of by a little white spaniel, which snarled, and 

 snapped, and foamed at the mouth. All cried out as 

 I came down the ladder, " A mad dog ! a mad dog ! " 

 The poor beast seemed to me more sick than mad ; it 

 ran forward a couple of paces, and got jammed between 

 two chests, and before it could free itself I had seized 

 it by the back of the neck, while it snapped and 

 struggled in vain. I shall long remember the shrieks 

 of the women, who had mounted into the sleeping 

 places, as I raised the dog, and thereby brought it 

 nearer to them than they thought consistent with 

 their safety. I kept fast hold of the poor thing, 

 carried him up the ladder, and threw him overboard. 

 It was the only dog on board, and belonged to poor 

 William, who came in for the shower-bath of tar on 

 board the lighter. He took the affair very coolly, and 

 said, " he was glad the beast was gone, as he was 

 always putting his paws into his food." He and his 

 father had remained a long time on deck, and at last, 

 when they had descended, they did not meet with a very 

 friendly reception from the old lady, who was lying sick 

 in her bed-place. William — you — and — your — father 

 --—are — very — stupid — to — leave — me — a — poor ^r- 

 sick — woman — all — a — lone — wdiile — you — are -t- a 



