By Sheer Pluck | Page 9

his carelessness in running over half
grown wheat, and was meditating how he could pay the fine without
having to ask his mother. He determined upon his return to carry some
of his cases of stuffed birds down to a shop in the town, and he felt sure
that he could get enough for these to pay for any damage which could
have been inflicted, with a fine for trespassing, for he had seen stuffed
birds exposed in the windows for sale, which were, he was sure, very
inferior to his own both in execution and lifelike interest.
After proceeding a few hundred yards along the road they met a pretty
little girl of seven or eight years old walking along alone. Frank
scarcely glanced at her, for at the moment he heard a shouting in the
distance and saw some men running along the road. For a moment he
thought that the farmer had despatched some of his men to stop him,
but instantly dismissed the idea, as they were coming from the opposite
direction and could by no possibility have heard what had happened.
They were lost sight of by a dip in the road, and as they disappeared, an
object was seen on the road on the near side of the dip.
"It is a dog," Frank said. "What can they be shouting at?"
The dog was within fifty yards of them when the men again appeared
from the dip and recommenced shouting. Frank could now hear what

they said.
"Mad dog! mad dog!"
"Get through the hedge, Charlie, quick," Frank cried. "Here, I will help
you over, never mind the thorns."
The hedge was low and closely kept, and Frank, bundling his comrade
over it, threw himself across and looked round. The dog was within ten
yards of them, and Frank saw that the alarm was well founded. The dog
was a large crossbred animal, between a mastiff and a bulldog. Its hair
was rough and bristling. It came along with its head down and foam
churning from its mouth. Frank looked the other way and gave a cry.
Yet twenty yards off, in the middle of the road, stood the child. She, too,
had heard the shouts, and had paused to see what was the matter. She
had not taken the alarm, but stood unsuspicious of danger, watching,
not the dog, but the men in the distance.
Frank placed the blowgun to his mouth, and in a moment his pellet
struck the animal smartly on the side of the head. It gave a short yelp
and paused. Another shot struck it, and then Frank, snatching the water
net from Charlie, threw himself over the hedge, and placed himself
between the child and the dog just as the latter, with a savage growl,
rushed at him.
Frank stood perfectly cool, and as the animal rushed forward, thrust the
net over its head; the ring was but just large enough to allow its head to
enter. Frank at once sprang forward, and placing himself behind the
dog kept a strain upon the stick, so retaining the mouth of the net
tightly on his neck. The animal at first rushed forward dragging Frank
after him. Then he stopped, backed, and tried to withdraw his head
from the encumbrance which blinded him. Frank, however, had no
difficulty in retaining the canvas net in its place, until the men, who
were armed with pitchforks, ran up and speedily despatched the
unfortunate animal.
"That's bravely done, young master," one of them said; "and you have
saved missy's life surely. The savage brute rushed into the yard and bit
a young colt and a heifer, and then, as we came running out with forks,
he took to the road again. We chased 'um along, not knowing who we
might meet, and it gived us a rare turn when we saw the master's Bessy
standing alone in the road, wi' nout between her and the dog. Where
have you been, Miss Bessy?"

"I've been to aunt's," she said, "and she gave me some strawberries and
cream, and it's wicked of you to kill the poor dog."
"Her aunt's farm lies next to master's," the man explained; "and little
miss often goes over there.
"The dog was mad, missy, and if it hadn't been for young master here,
it would have killed you as safe as eggs. Won't you come back to the
farm, sir? Master and mistress would be main glad to thank you for
having saved missy's life."
"No, thank you," Frank said; "we are late now and must be going on
our way. I am very glad I happened to be here at the time;" so saying
Frank and Charlie proceeded on their way to Deal.
On reaching home he at once picked