THE HARD BATTLE.
In coming home by some cherry trees that stood near the fence, Samuel
saw a little animal, larger than a bat, fly swiftly from one branch to
another. He asked his cousins if it was not a flying squirrel. Thomas
answered, "Yes. Several nests of them are in these trees. If you could
examine one of these squirrels closely, you would see that its wings, as
they are called, are not like bird's wings."
"They seem more like a bat's wings," said Samuel.
"So they are," replied his cousin; "only thin skins, stretched along the
sides from the fore legs to the hind ones. But these squirrels cannot
fly far, nor stay long in the air, as bats can. They merely dart swiftly
from one branch to another."
"What other kinds of squirrels are there?" asked Samuel.
"The grey squirrel," said Thomas, "much larger than this one. It is not
often found about here. Then the ground squirrel, that lives in the
ground, instead of on the trees. The common squirrel, such as you see
running about the fences and woods; and two or three other kinds. Some
people eat squirrels; but I have never tasted one."
The boys now heard some one screaming, and stopped to listen. "It comes
from that field," said John; "let us run and see what is the matter."
They did so, and soon saw that the big dog they had passed in going to
the creek, had got out, and was chasing a boy. This boy was screaming
with fear; and John perceived that he was the boy who had been stoning
frogs. But the boys ran with all their might to help him, picking up
such stones and sticks as lay on the ground, in their way. When they
reached the boy, he was pale with fear, for the dog was close to him.
Samuel also felt a little afraid; but he joined his two cousins in
trying to beat the dog back. The fierce animal got John's stick in his
mouth, and wrenched it out of his hand; but he kicked it in the jaws,
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.
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