A DEADLY ENCOUNTER.
The scene, so peaceful, so picturesque, is rudely broken in upon by a
clamor so strange and awful that the blood is chilled in the listeners'
veins. Cries are heard down the steep street; cries that indicate alarm,
even terror; cries that proceed from children, women, ay, and strong
men, too.
Our party comes to a halt midway between the brow of the hill and the
base. On either side tall houses, the declivity ending only at the
water. It is a bustling street at all hours, with loungers, business
men, women going to and returning from market, and children playing as
children do the world over, in the dirt.
"What can it mean?" says Lady Ruth, as she looks breathlessly down the
street.
No one in their party can explain the cause of the excitement. They see
people running madly this way and that, as if panic-stricken.
"By Jove! it must be a fire!" suggests the colonel, twirling his
whiskers.
"Nonsense! we should see the smoke," declares sensible Aunt Gwen.
"You are right; it is something more than a fire. Those people are
almost crazed. I've seen such a sight in Chicago, when a wild Texan
steer got loose and tossed things right and left," asserts the medical
student.
"That's what's the matter. See! they point at something as they run!
Look out for the bull!" cries Philander.
Thus, in watching for a bulky frame to appear, they fail to notice the
actual cause of the disturbance.
The street is almost deserted, save where people begin to reappear
below, as though the danger were past, to reappear and shout afresh as
they wave their arms.
Some one is shouting close to them now. They turn their heads and behold
the crowd of commissionaires dashing headlong for the shelter of
adjacent houses, and acting like crazy men.
It is Signor Giovani who shouts, first in Arabic, then in Italian, and
finally in English. They hear him now, and no wonder the blood runs cold
in their veins--it is a cry to alarm the boldest warrior on earth.
"Mad dog! Run, signors!--save the ladies! To the houses, or you are
lost!"
That is what the old fencing-master of Malta shouts while he retreats.
It causes them to turn their heads, and what do they see? Advancing up
the middle of the inclined street, turning aside for neither king nor
peasant, comes a great gaunt beast, his square head wagging from side to
side, his eyes blood-shot, and the foam dropping from his open jaws.
Heavens! What a spectacle to rivet one with horror to the spot.
Fortunately there are some people of action present.
Aunt Gwen clutches her _infant_ by the shoulder, and drags him along in
the direction of the nearest house.
"Run, Philander, or you're a goner! It's worse than snake poison, the
bite of a mad dog is. Haven't I seen a bitten man so furious that it
required six to hold him down? Faster, professor! on your life!"
With that iron grip on his shoulder poor Philander's feet barely touch
the ground as he is whirled through space, and the dog, mad or not, that
overtakes Aunt Gwen and her infant must be a rapid traveler, indeed.
Thus they reach a house, and in another minute reappear upon a balcony,
to witness a scene they will never forget.
Lady Ruth, though naturally quivering with excitement, has plenty of
cavaliers to hurry her to a place of safety. Besides, after that one
first shock, she shows more grit than might have been expected of her.
She allows herself to be hurried along. A strong hand grasps each arm;
and if every one in the path of the mad brute were as well attended,
there would be little cause for anxiety or alarm.
Now they have reached a house, and safety is assured, for the hospitable
door stands open to welcome them.
Already a number have preceded them, for they seem to be the last in the
vicinity.
Just as they arrive, the colonel, who appears intensely excited, is
saying, hoarsely:
"Enter quickly, I beg, Lady Ruth."
She turns her head in curiosity for one last look, impelled by an
unknown power--turns, and is at once petrified by what she sees.
They notice the look of horror on her lovely face, and instinctively
guessing, also cast a glance in the direction where last the savage
brute was seen.
He has continued to advance in the interim, and is now quite close,
though not moving out of the straight line in the center of the
street--a repulsive looking object truly, and enough to horrify the
bravest.
Colonel Lionel gives a gasp. He is trembling all over, for it chances
that this brave soldier, who has led forlorn hopes in the Zulu war, and
performed prodigies of valor on Egyptian battle-fields, has a peculiar
dread of dogs, inherited from one of his parents.
It is not the animal that has fixed Lady Ruth's attention. Just in front
and directly in the line of the dog's advance is a small native child
that has been playing in the street.
He cannot be over three years of age, and with his curly black head and
half-naked body presents a picture of robust health.
Apparently engrossed in his play, he sees and hears nothing of the clamor
around until, chancing to look up, he sees the dog, and fearlessly
extends his chubby arms toward it.
The picture is one never to be forgotten.
It thrills every one who looks on.
No one seems to have a gun or weapon of any kind. A peculiar paralysis
affects them, a feeling of dumb horror.
A shriek sounds; from a window is seen the form of a native woman, who
wrings her hands in terrible anguish.
The child's mother! God pity her! to be an eye-witness of her darling's
fate!
Lady Ruth turns to the colonel, to the man who so recently proudly
declared that no English woman ever asked a favor that a British officer
would not grant, no matter what the risk.
"Save the darling!" her pallid lips utter.
He trembles all over, groans, takes a couple of tottering steps
forward, and then leans against the wall for support.
"I cannot," he gasps.
Other Britons there are who would be equal to the emergency. Mortal man
has never done aught in this world that Englishmen dare not imitate, and
indeed they generally lead. It is unfortunate for England that an
antipathy for dogs runs in the Blunt family.
This time Lady Ruth does not say "coward," but her face expresses the
fine contempt she feels. With that mother's shrieks in her ears, what
can she think of a man who will hesitate to save a sweet child, even
at the risk of meeting the most terrible death known to the world?
She turns to face the man who a short time before positively refused to
risk his life because Miss Caprice desired it.
What can she hope from him?
As she thus turns she discovers that John Craig is no longer there,
though three seconds before his hand was on her arm.
A shout comes from the street, where, when last she looked, not a living
thing could be seen but the advancing mad dog and the kneeling child. A
shout that proceeds from a strong pair of lungs, and is intended to turn
the attention of the brute toward the person emitting it. A shout that
causes hope to thrill in many hearts, to inspire a confidence that the
innocent may be saved.
The young doctor from Chicago is seen bounding to meet the maddened
brute, now so terribly close to the child.
None knows better than John Craig what the result of a bite may be.
He has seen more than one hydrophobia patient meet death in the most
dreadful manner known to the profession.
Yet he faces this fate now, the man who was thought too cowardly to
crawl out along that bleak rock and secure a white flower for a girl's
whim.
He goes not because it will be a great thing to do, or on account of the
admiration which success will bring him. That mother's shriek of agony
rings in his ears, and if he even knew that he was going to his death,
yet would he still assume the risk.
It was on account of a mother--his own--he refused to risk his life
before, and the same sacred affection inspires his action now, for he
could never look into her dear eyes again, except in a shame-faced way,
if he allowed this child to meet death while he stood an inactive
spectator of the tragedy.
As he advances, John draws his right arm from his coat-sleeve. It is not
the act of thoughtlessness, but has been done with a motive.
When the coat is free, with a quick motion he whirls it around, so that
it rolls about his left arm.
Those who see the act comprehend his purpose, and realize that he means
to force the brute to seize him there.
All this has occurred in a very brief time. Perhaps a quarter of a
minute has elapsed since Lady Ruth turned to Colonel Lionel, and
besought his aid.
John Craig has at least accomplished one purpose. Just as the mad dog is
about to snap at the child, the young medical student snatches the boy
away, and throws him to the rear. The child rolls over and over, and
then, sitting up, begins to cry, more from surprise at the rough
treatment than because he is hurt.
There is no time for John to turn and fly, and pick up the child on the
way.
The dog is upon him.
John has only a chance to drop on his knee, and thrust his left arm
forward.
Those who are watching, and they are many, hold their breath in dread
suspense.
"Heaven preserve him!" says Lady Ruth, wringing her clasped hands in an
agony of fear.
They see the youth, he is hardly more, offer his bound arm to the beast,
and those glittering fangs at once close upon it.
Then, quick as a flash, having filled the dog's jaws, John Craig throws
himself forward, his whole effort being to crush the animal to the
ground by his weight.
It is the work of a strategist. A veteran hunter when met by a fierce
panther could not do better than this.
As John has expected, the dog, taken by surprise, does not offer the
resistance that his powerful strength would warrant, but is at once
borne backward, nor can he release his hold from the cloth-bound arm
which his teeth have seized upon.
A struggle under such circumstances must be a terrible thing, and the
shorter it can be made the better.
They see the man throw himself upon the brute; they know his other hand
has sought the animal's throat, as the only means of ending his
existence.
Prayers for his safety arise from many a heart, as the people watch the
dreadful conflict from windows, and balconies, and other places where
they have sought refuge.
The struggle is of brief duration.
John has the advantage in the contest, and the desire in his soul to
prevent this mad beast from injuring others lends him a strength beyond
what is naturally his portion.
With a grip of iron he clutches the brute's throat, and in a few moments
the dog stiffens in death.
The young medical student arises, but the ferocious brute lies there
harmless in the roadway. The smallest child in Valetta may play on the
street now and fear no evil, thanks to the love one American bears for
his mother.
Now that the danger is past, people flock out.
With the rest our tourists hasten toward the young hero. A form flies
past them with wild eyes and disheveled hair; a form that pounces upon
the little chap still crying in fright, and presses him convulsively to
her breast.
That is the mother of the child.
They rush to the spot, some to congratulate the youth who slew the dog,
others to gaze upon the horrible spectacle the animal presents as he
lies there devoid of life.
Lady Ruth comes with the rest, and upon her fair face and in her sunny
eyes can be seen a warmth of keenest admiration, such as poor Blunt
failed to receive when he leaned far over the dizzy precipice to secure
the flower Miss Caprice desired.
"Oh, doctor, how noble of you! I shall never forgive myself for the
foolish blunder I made. See! these people look upon you as a hero, for
you risked your life for a child of Malta. I am proud to be known as
your friend."
Her looks as well as her words are enough to send any man into the
seventh heaven of delight.
John Craig is very white; a set look is upon his face, but he smiles a
little.
"I am glad the little fellow was not touched."
"And you?" she gasps, a sudden fear arising.
He slowly unwinds the coat which was thrust into the mad dog's mouth,
and then rolls up his shirt-sleeve, to disclose to her horrified eyes
the blue imprint of two fangs in the muscular part of his forearm.