Charles+

Your story is a touching one.  I do not mean to make light of it, but our
tabby cat, Dunstan (that is, His Grace, Lord Dunstan) also awakened us, too,
this morning.  Mercifully it was after 6 AM.  He gave that classic cat yowl
that is used when two cats have a standoff  and are seemingly challenging
one another to a duel.  For the first time in his over 9 years he did this
INDOORS!  It quickly gets ones attention, as I am sure Duke's baying did!

No one was sitting in our kitchen--but then, we lock our doors in small
Indiana towns.  (It keeps the opossums and coons out.)  Could Dunstan, too,
have had some sort of night visitor?  The way he was hyperventilating at the
front door, I suspect a feline nemesis was nearby.

I only responded with this account because it happened the same night as
your experience--and only 20 some mile from you.

Remember at midnight tonight animals will briefly be able to talk.  Be sure
to be there for Duke, as he may be inclined to explain.  I surely hope
Dunstan does.

John+


----- Original Message -----
From: <chasrscott@...>
To: <faithandlife@...>
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 3:54 AM
Subject: [FaithandLife] A NIGHT VISITOR - NOT AMAHL


>
> A NIGHT VISITOR - NOT AMAHL
>
> Brothers+
>
> Duke the Beagle often dreams.  His rapid eye movements when in deep sleep,
running paws, and occasional whimpers or yelps, tells me he is hunting.
>
> As my hearing decreases, I don't know whether Duke's occasional dreams are
prompted by some sound or odor external to the house; or as Shakespeare's
Hamlet surmised about his encounter with the Ghost of his father, that the
vision was a result of some undigested bit of meat.
>
> It is 1:45 A.M.  Duke the Beagle, Virginia and I soundly sleep.  I had
retired shortly after 10:00pm, worn out by the day's activities and the long
drive to Indianapolis and back.   Duke began making his siren like sound,
the one only a hound makes when he is alerting other dogs that he has found
something.
>