This event took place many years ago, when I was perhaps 9 or 10 years old and my brother John was probably 12 or 13.
At that time, as was true for his whole life ,Dad had hunting dogs.
He had one that was not particularly large, but "Elmer", though not large ,was tough, because he was an Airedale.
There were many other dogs in our neighborhood, most of them running loose. Dad's hunting dogs were not allowed to "roam" at will.
In our neighborhood, was "Jeff", some kind of foxhound/ German shepherd cross most often accompanied by "Rover", an overweight, laid-back Black& Tan, who lived at the same home with him.
Now, old Jeff about "ruled the roost", as far as the local loose running dogs were concerned. He had put the "big hurt" and the "big fear" in all that dared to challenge him!
One summer morning, my brother John and I were working in the garden, hoeing the young corn. Elmer was chained to a nearby doghouse, dozing in the morning sun.
As I stood up to wipe sweat from my brow, I noticed Jeff and Rover trotting down the road. I said, "Hey John,here comes Jeff and Rover...when he gets here , he'll run up here and start growling and snarling at Elmer...he does it all the time. Trouble is, he stays just out of reach of Elmer's chain".
John has a dry sense of humor; he said...."lets give him a little surprise!"
So John calmly walked over and quietly unsnapped Elmer's chain and laid it on the ground....
True to my prediction, when Jeff had covered the quarter mile or so and arrived in front of our house, he charged up the knoll that our home was located on.
Jeff came right up till he was just outside the circular worn trail that chained dogs make.
Elmer charged back...expecting, I'm sure to stopped short by the chain.
I am not now sure, after all these years, sure who was more surprised at the failure of the restraining chain.....Jeff or Elmer...
In any case they both recovered quickly; Elmer to press his attack....Jeff to get the worst thrashing he ever had in his life...
Jeff ended up hobbling home on two defective legs...looking like a burlap sack of bones that had been dragged a few miles behind a truck!
By the way...when the chain didn't hold old Rover turned round and trotted home! I like to think he was there when Jeff dragged in...saying "I told you so!".
