274 FUR FACTS 



regarded each other, soon led me to the conclusion that I was no 

 longer wanted in their company, so on the day following I gathered 

 up what few traps and other belongings I had and started for home. 



That evening I reached the town of Kennett, having covered a 

 distance of thirty miles, and here I sold my belongings for the 

 aggregate sum of $6.00. 



The next day I resumed my journey on foot, taking, as near as I 

 could determine with the aid of my compass, a course directly to- 

 wards home. A cold, blustery wind was blowing, and dark clouds 

 were scurrying across the sky, betokening the approach of a snow 

 storm. I pressed on, walking through dense forests hour after hour, 

 and as evening drew on I felt the pangs of hunger approaching. At 

 length I came to a section of prairie land and as I stood scanning the 

 horizon I saw a light flickering faintly through the mists. With 

 visions of a warm supper and a soft bed luring me on I increased my 

 pace almost to a run, my fatigued limbs taking on new life under the 

 spur of my anticipated good fortune. I soon covered the distance 

 between myself and the light and as I drew nearer I saw that it rad- 

 iated from the window of a low cabin. I let myself in through a 

 small gate that separated the yard from the adjoining territory, 

 taking care to close and lock it carefully. I crept stealthily up the 

 narrow little path-way, and was almost to the door, when there 

 issued, from the rear of the cabin, a fierce growl, followed immediately 

 by a series of deep gruff barks. Then a huge black dog, about the 

 size of a young grizzly, came bounding towards me. With one leap 

 he was upon me, his great claws imbedding themselves in my clothes, 

 his great white teeth gleaming from his parted jaws, his eyes shining 

 with a ferocious hatred. Weakened by my long tramp and shocked 

 by the suddenness of the attack, I was unable for the moment to 

 offer any considerable resistance to the brute. I toppled backward 

 under his weight and fell, striking my head against the door-step as 

 I did so. Although badly stunned, I was not insensible, and an 

 instant later I saw the cabin door open. 



"Carlo!" "Carlo!" It was a girl's voice. The beast released 

 his hold upon me and walked sneakingly around the corner of the 

 cabin. The girl came nearer. 



"Did he hurt you?" she inquired anxiously, bending over me. 

 Looking up, I saw, for the first time, her face. In all my days 

 I had never glimpsed a face more beautiful, nor heard a voice 

 more sweet. As might be supposed, I had not, in my rambles through 

 the forest, come in contact with a great many members of the fair 



