er hours,--it seemed to me,--by the whining
and crying of my dog, my pet, who was my constant companion. He was a
clever little fellow and, I used to think, knew as much as some folks.
He was now at the small, grated window of the cellar, crying and
scratching at the earth, evidently trying to dig his way in to me.

His presence--even outside--comforted me, and a thought came to me. He
had been taught to go to Uncle Will and others of the family, and
perhaps he might be able to bring help. I called to him, and he
responded joyfully. Then I gave him his order.

"Call Uncle Will!"

The faithful fellow did not want to leave me; he whined and cried,
but I repeated the order in as stern a voice as I could manage.

"Call Uncle Will!" I ordered again and again, and at last he ran off.

Then I took hope and began to listen. If Uncle Will came near, I meant
to call and scream to attract his attention.

But hours passed; no one came--not even my dear Tony--and I heard
noises and went mad again. I was getting exhausted, sitting
uncomfortably on the top step of the stairs, and suffering such
violent emotion.

Meanwhile there was excitement at Uncle Will's over the strange
conduct of the dog. He barked, and howled, and cried at the door, till
Uncle Will got out of bed to quiet him. But he would not be quiet, nor
go into the house for all the coaxing. He insisted on barking, running
towards the gate, and then back in the most frantic way.

At last, after he had kept the family awake all night, when daylight
began to dawn, Uncle Will decided to follow him to see if he could
find what was the matter, though he was sure the poor fellow was
raving mad.

The dog led him at once to the cellar window, where he dug at the
earth, and whined and cried harder than ever. At first I did not hear
him,--I think I had become unconscious,--but at last I did rouse
myself enough to utter a scream which Uncle Will heard. He did not
recognize my voice,--indeed he said afterwards that it sounded like
nothing human,--but he resolved at any rate to see what it was.

He went to the kitchen door to unlock it, but the dog went wilder than
ever, seeming to think I was behind that window. However, Uncle Will
came in, and on his unlocking the cellar door, I fell on the floor in
a heap, as if dead.

Uncle Will was awfully frightened; he took me up in his arms--big as I
was--and ran with me back to his house, which was not far away.

It was hours bef