1. I pointed out to the dog the way I wished to go, and with a wag of
his tail, the wise creature trotted on slowly in front. He seemed to
feel that he had the charge of me and had been trusted.
[Illustration: A BITTER NIGHT.]
2. We had not gone far before he gave a whine, and coming quite close
to me, stared in my face, and changed his course. He seemed to beg me
to turn aside to the right.
3. I went as he asked me, and as I was going, I tried with my stick to
poke the ground from which the dog had wished to turn. I wanted to know
why he was not willing to let me tread just there.
4. I found that a deep pond, over which a slight cover of ice and snow
were spread, was close beside us. It was an old pit in which water had
frozen.
5. Had I set my foot on it I must have sunk down and I never could have
risen. "A few inches closer to the edge and I must have been drowned!"
cried I aloud, and did not forget to thank God for the escape.
6. The dog now stopped a few feet off as if to watch whether I was
coming, and again trotted forward as I praised him and began to follow.
7. Soon he gave a second whine, and again seemed to wish me to turn
aside. I trod in his footprints, and again was safe. I was now nearly
ready to faint from cold.
8. "Go on, good dog," said I to my faithful guide, "lead me home
quickly, or I shall die." He gave a hoarse bark in reply, as if to bid
me keep a good heart.
9. I was just falling down, for I could walk no further, when he gave a
short, eager bark of joy; at least it seemed like joy, I thought, but
my ears were deaf, and my eyes dim.
10. I gave one last hopeless glance around, and saw something large and
dark in front. It was a wooden shed, the black inside of which showed
plainly against the whiteness all around.
11. I knew that it must be one of the huts which the men used who were
digging peat on the moor, and the thought filled me with terror, for I
knew that these huts were very far away from my home.
12. But all other feelings went from me now; I had a strong wish to
rest, and that was all. I crept into the hut and lay down, thinking
that I would wait there till the storm was over.
13. The dog came in after me, and laid himself down close to my side. I
felt more sleepy than I had ever done in my life before, my eyes ached,
and bright lights seemed to be flashing in front of them.
14. I thought of my home, wife, and child, and then sleep stole upon
me. Once I woke with the hoarse bark of the dog ringing in my ears. He
was doing his best to wake me from the sleep which must end in death
out there on the bitter moor.
15. A second time he roused me, and I felt that he had now crept very
close to my breast, and with his fore paws resting on my shoulders, was
licking my face with his warm tongue.
16. In the act of stroking him and speaking a kindly word, I again sank
to sleep, and after that I forgot all about the dog, the shed, and the
cold moor. I dreamt of home, my little girl, and my dear wife.
* * * * *
_Write:_ The dog led the man to a hut. On the way there he saved him
from falling into a deep pit. The dog did his best to keep the man from
falling asleep.
Questions: 1. What did the man point out to the dog? 2. What
did he do to take care of the man on the way? 3. Where did
he lead the man? 4. What did the man feel before he was in
the hut? 5. How did the dog try to keep him awake? 6. If he
had been allowed to sleep in the snow what would have
happened to the man?