It was a hot, sticky afternoon and Charlie, the popular town blacksmith, was busy working over his forge. He had a big job to complete that day and he didn’t let even the heat slow him down.
Outside, the humid air seemed to hang in silent suspense. Suddenly, form not too far away, the silence was pierced with shouts and screams. At first Charlie did not hear it, but soon the noise reached his ears above the sound of his pounding.
Immediately Charlie dropped his hammer and rushed to the door to see what this could be. Then he heard the terrible cry of, “Mad dog! Mad dog!” Without hesitation he hurried into the street.
By this time the people had formed a large circle quite a distance from the dog. Some protected their small children. The commotion was being caused by a small boy who had wandered out in the area near the foaming dog. Terror gripped the crowd as they saw the boy, unaware of his danger, approach the dog, hoping to play with it. Everyone seemed frozen in place.
Charlie quickly took in the situation as he neared the spot. After pausing briefly at the edge of the crown, he suddenly rushed toward the child. Just as the rabid dog turned upon the child, Charlie snatched him up and carried him to the edge of the crown. Charlie could hear the snarling dog close behind and could see the expressions of terror on the faces of the people. Quickly he swung around and faced the dog. Then with his strong arms and hands he grasped by the neck and with great effort was able to strangle it. The crowd cheered him for his heroic deed.
As soon as possible Charlie went back to the shop to get busy with this important job. Now he would probably have to work all night to get finished. As he reached for his hammer he noticed a deep gash on his arm—a bite mark received from the rabid dog. In those days there was no cure for rabies.
Quickly Charlie made a decision. He went across the room and chose a piece of iron. Immediately he started to work. Gradually a chain began to take form.
When he had finished the chain, Charlie left the shop unnoticed. He walked until he reached the woods not far away. He entered the woods alone, found a good spot and then carefully fastened the chain to his wrists and then fastened it to a large tree. Soon the dread effects of rabies would begin to show, and Charlie determined not to endanger anyone when he became violent. When they found his body a few days later, they knew what he had done.