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CHILDREN OF THE SOUTH 13

God gave human beings brains to guide their deeds.
He also gave animals instinct. Who shall say where that
instinct begins or ends.
Who shall say that this giant animal was "baying
at the moon" when he was pleading, (his head high
toward heaven) to his Creator-his God. And who
shall say that his prayer was not answered, for he got
down flat upon the ground beside the mistress whom he
loved, his powerful forefeet were thrust beneath her
body followed by his boring head. Slowly and carefully
he worked, inch by inch, crawling further under, and
then he gently rose with the limp form upon his back.
He whined piteously and the half unconscious girl
understood. Her fingers tangled in his shaggy hair and
weakly closed and down the mountain side they went.
Two hours later they were at the river, the Rio
Grande-with the girl still upon this lion-hearted
beast's back.
If they were torn before no words can describe their
condition now.
The girl was scarcely recognizable and the dog had
great cakes of matted blood upon his sides and the
white bones shone through the hide of his legs, but he
did not hesitate. He plunged straight into the swollen
swift running river.
Had not the cold water brought the girl additional
life, she would have drowned this courageous Wolf dog
and herself-for she could not swim. But her numbed
brain cleared-she fastened her fingers in his long hair
-and was dragged by his side. The dog swam rapidly
to keep her afloat, his head boring into the current and
always working toward the opposite shore. The
American Shore! where just beyond the lights burned
fitfully. They had WON!
The mighty crowd had somewhat thinned out at the
HEADLIGHT Saloon and Gambling Hall. For the
hour was two in the morning. Still the whir and rattle
of the little ball of chance was heard as it was sent
spinning around its circle.