,
and so kept it off with his feet, while Thomas and Samuel struck it over
the head with all their might. As to the boy, he ran as hard as he
could, until he was out of sight. Thomas's stick now broke, but Samuel
ran his down the dog's throat, and John ran to bring a great pole which
was lying a little distance off. With this they kept the dog from biting
them, until some men came running down a lane, and over into the field.
They had seen the dog run out of the farmer's yard, and were anxious to
kill it. So they threw a rope round its neck, and dragged it away. They
said it should be shot. The boys were very warm, and could scarcely get
their breath. They walked, therefore, to a tree which stood in the
field, and sat down to get cool, and rest themselves. Thomas said he
would be glad if the dog were killed, for such an animal was not fit to
keep. "If we had each had a good stout club," replied his brother, "he
would never have run after any of us again."

They looked for the boy, but he could not be seen; and after resting
themselves, they walked home. When Mr. Harvey heard of their battle with
the dog, he said that it was a great blessing they had not been bitten;
for that in summer the bite of a dog often caused madness, followed by
certain death.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER X.

ABOUT CORN AND THE USES OF ANIMALS.

When Samuel had been at his uncle's about two weeks. Mr. Harvey told him
one morning, that he might go with his cousins to a field where early
corn was growing and pull some to cook, if it was ripe. They had a merry
time among the high corn. As they came back to the house, carrying their
basket of ears, Samuel asked his cousins, why corn was sometimes called
Indian corn.

"It is because it formed the chief food of the Indians, before white men
came to this country," replied Thomas. "Father says its proper name is
maize. It was first found in this country; and there are some parts of
America where it is used altogether instead of wheat or rye. Did you
ever taste cakes made from it?"

"Yes," said Samuel; "they were sweeter than wheat bread; but I would not
like to eat them every day."

"Nor I either," said John; "but I like Indian meal with sugar, eggs, and
milk in it, and then baked brown in the oven. Don't you, Samuel?"

"I never tasted it that way. But I think corn is best boiled on the ear,
and eaten with meat and vegetables."

Mr. Harvey's library, as I have already told you, was very