a club, tried to calm his nerves for the
struggle. He would have fled, had he not known that that would draw
pursuit to himself. He was inclined to urge his uncle to join him in a
break for freedom, the two taking diverging routes. Since the canine
could not chase both at the same time, such a course was certain to
save one, but, inasmuch as the youth was at the front, he knew he must
be the victim, and the prospect of a mad dog nipping at his heels, with
fangs surcharged with one of the most fearful venoms known, was too
terrifying to be borne. He, therefore, braced himself, and, with a
certain dignity and courage, held his ground.

A dog suffering from the rabies often shows odd impulses. This one was
within fifty feet of Rube, when he turned at right angles and trotted
toward the other side of the cornfield.

"_Now's_ your time, chile!" called Uncle Pete; "got de gun quick, and
if he comes back we'll be ready for him."

It was the first suggestion that struck the nephew favorably, and he
acted upon it at once. The dog might change his mind again and return
to the attack, in which event no weapon could equal a loaded gun.

As Rube ran with his broad-brimmed hat flapping in his eyes, he kept
glancing over his shoulder, to make sure the brute was not following
him, while his uncle held his position, with his hoe grasped and his
eye fixed on the animal, trotting between the hills of corn. He
managed also to note the action of his nephew, who was making good
time, and whose progress caused the hearts of the two to heat high with
hope.

Had the fence ahead of the dog been open, doubtless he would have soon
passed out of sight; but, as if recalling his trouble in entering the
field, and possibly seeing his error in leaving two victims, he stopped
only an instant in front of the rails, when he turned and came at a
swifter gait than before, straight for Uncle Pete.

The latter stared a second or two and then shouted:

"Quick, Rube! he means _me_ dis time!" And he dashed off, not to join
his nephew, but to reach the side of the field opposite the nose of the
animal.

By this time the youth had his hands on the smoothbore musket and his
courage came back. He saw his uncle crashing over the hills, the
picture of dismay, while the dog rapidly gained on him.

"Hey dar! hey dar!" shouted Rube, breaking into a run and trying to
draw attention to himself. But the brute only sped the faster. He was
near the middl