animal heroes(动物英雄)-第30节
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the netting。 Oh； yes； I knew all about Dogs。 The little fury had been
growling out a whole…souled growl for every tap of the tool； and when I
turned the box on its side； he made a dash straight for my legs。 Had not his
foot gone through the wire netting and held him； I might have been hurt；
for his heart was evidently in his work； but I stepped on the table out of
reach and tried to reason with him。 I have always believed in talking to
animals。 I maintain that they gather something of our intention at least；
even if they do not understand our words； but the Dog evidently put me
down for a hypocrite and scorned my approaches。 At first he took his post
under the table and kept up a circular watch for a leg trying to get down。 I
felt sure I could have controlled him with my eye； but I could not bring it
to bear where I was； or rather where he was； thus I was left a prisoner。 I
am a very cool person； I flatter myself； in fact； I represent a hardware firm；
and； in coolness； we are not excelled by any but perhaps the nosy
gentlemen that sell wearing…apparel。 I got out a cigar and smoked tailor…
style on the table； while my little tyrant below kept watch for legs。 I got
out the telegram and read it： 〃Remarkable pup。 Be polite to him； it's safer。〃
I think it was my coolness rather than my politeness that did it； for in half
an hour the growling ceased。 In an hour he no longer jumped at a
newspaper cautiously pushed over the edge to test his humor； possibly the
irritation of the cage was wearing off； and by the time I had lit my third
cigar； he waddled out to the fire and lay down； not ignoring me； however； I
had no reason to complain of that kind of contempt。 He kept one eye on
me； and I kept both eyes； not on him； but on his stumpy tail。 If that tail
should swing sidewise once I should feel I was winning； but it did not
swing。 I got a book and put in time on that table till my legs were cramped
and the fire burned low。 About 10 P。M。 it was chilly； and at half…past ten
the fire was out。 My Hallowe'en present got up； yawned and stretched；
then walked under my bed； where he found a fur rug。 By stepping lightly
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from the table to the dresser； and then on to the mantel…shelf； I also
reached bed； and； very quietly undressing； got in without provoking any
criticism from my master。 I had not yet fallen asleep when I heard a slight
scrambling and felt 〃thump…thump〃 on the bed； then over my feet and legs；
Snap evidently had found it too cool down below； and proposed to have
the best my house afforded。
He curled up on my feet in such a way that I was very uncomfortable
and tried to readjust matters； but the slightest wriggle of my toe was
enough to make him snap at it so fiercely that nothing but thick woollen
bedclothes saved me from being maimed for life。
I was an hour moving my feeta hair's…breadth at a timetill they were
so that I could sleep in comfort； and I was awakened several times during
the night by angry snarls from the DogI suppose because I dared to move
a toe without his approval； though once I believe he did it simply because
I was snoring。
In the morning I was ready to get up before Snap was。 You see； I call
him Snap…Ginger…snap in full。 Some Dogs are hard to name； and some
do not seem to need itthey name themselves。
I was ready to rise at seven。 Snap was not ready till eight； so we rose at
eight。 He had little to say to the man who made the fire。 He allowed me to
dress without doing it on the table。 As I left the room to get breakfast； I
remarked：
〃Snap； my friend； some men would whip you into a different way； but
I think I know a better plan。 The doctors nowadays favor the 'no…breakfast
cure。' I shall try that。〃
It seemed cruel； but I left him without food all day。 It cost me
something to repaint the door where he scratched it； but at night he was
quite ready to accept a little food at my hands。
In a week we were very good friends。 He would sleep on my bed now
and allow me to move my feet without snapping at them； intent to do me
serious bodily harm。 The no…breakfast cure had worked wonders； in three
months we werewell； simply man and Dog； and he amply justified the
telegram he came with。
He seemed to be without fear。 If a small Dog came near； he would take
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not the slightest notice； if a medium…sized Dog； he would stick his stub of
a tail rigidly up in the air； then walk around him； scratching
contemptuously with his hind feet； and looking at the sky； the distance； the
ground； anything but the Dog； and noting his presence only by frequent
high…pitched growls。 If the stranger did not move on at once； the battle
began； and then the stranger usually moved on very rapidly。 Snap
sometimes got worsted； but no amount of sad experience could ever
inspire him with a grain of caution。 Once； while riding in a cab during the
Dog Show； Snap caught sight of an elephantine St。 Bernard taking an
airing。 Its size aroused such enthusiasm in the Pup's little breast that he
leaped from the cab window to do battle； and broke his leg。
Evidently fear had been left out of his make…up and its place supplied
with an extra amount of ginger； which was the reason of his full name。 He
differed from all other Dogs I have ever known。 For example； if a boy
threw a stone at him； he ran； not away； but toward the boy； and if the crime
was repeated； Snap took the law into his own hands； thus he was at least
respected by all。 Only myself and the porter at the office seemed to realize
his good points； and we only were admitted to the high honor of personal
friendship； an honor which I appreciated more as months went on； and by
midsummer not Carnegie； Vanderbilt； and Astor together could have raised
money enough to buy a quarter of a share in my little Dog Snap。
II
Though not a regular traveller； I was ordered out on the road in the
autumn； and then Snap and the landlady were left together； with
unfortunate developments。 Contempt on his partfear on hers； and hate on
both。
I was placing a lot of barb…wire in the northern tier of States。 My
letters were forwarded once a week； and I got several complaints from the
landlady about Snap。
Arrived at Mendoza； in North Dakota； I found a fine market for wire。
Of course my dealings were with the big storekeepers； but I went about
among the ranchmen to get their practical views on the different styles；
and thus I met the Penroof Brothers' Cow…outfit。
One cannot be long in Cow country now without hearing a great deal
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about the depredations of the ever wily and destructive Gray…wolf。 The
day has gone by when they can be poisoned wholesale； and they are a
serious drain on the rancher's profits。 The Penroof Brothers； like most live
cattle…men； had given up all attempts at poisoning and trapping； and were
trying various breeds of Dogs as Wolf…hunters； hoping to get a little sport
out of the necessary work of destroying the pests。
Foxhounds had failedthey were too soft for fighting； Great Danes
were too clumsy； and Greyhounds could not follow the game unless they
could see it。 Each breed had some fatal defect； but the cow…men hoped to
succeed with a mixed pack； and the day when I was invited to join in a
Mendoza Wolf…hunt； I was amused by the variety of Dogs that followed。
There were several mongrels； but there were also a few highly bred Dogs
in particular； some Russian Wolfhounds that must have cost a lot of
money。
Hilton Penroof； the oldest boy； 〃The Master of Hounds；〃 was
unusually proud of them； and expected them to do great things。
〃Greyhounds are too thin…skinned to fight a Wolf； Danes are too slow；
but you'll see the fur fly when the Russians take a hand。〃
Thus the Greyhounds were th
