He, therefore, braced himself, and, with a
certain dignity and courage, held his ground.
A dog suffering from the rabies often shows odd impulses. This one was
within fifty feet of Rube, when he turned at right angles and trotted
toward the other side of the cornfield.
"_Now's_ your time, chile!" called Uncle Pete; "got de gun quick, and
if he comes back we'll be ready for him."
It was the first suggestion that struck the nephew favorably, and he
acted upon it at once. The dog might change his mind again and return
to the attack, in which event no weapon could equal a loaded gun.
As Rube ran with his broad-brimmed hat flapping in his eyes, he kept
glancing over his shoulder, to make sure the brute was not following
him, while his uncle held his position, with his hoe grasped and his
eye fixed on the animal, trotting between the hills of corn. He
managed also to note the action of his nephew, who was making good
time, and whose progress caused the hearts of the two to heat high with
hope.
Had the fence ahead of the dog been open, doubtless he would have soon
passed out of sight; but, as if recalling his trouble in entering the
field, and possibly seeing his error in leaving two victims, he stopped
only an instant in front of the rails, when he turned and came at a
swifter gait than before, straight for Uncle Pete.
The latter stared a second or two and then shouted:
"Quick, Rube! he means _me_ dis time!" And he dashed off, not to join
his nephew, but to reach the side of the field opposite the nose of the
animal.
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