his dog(狗儿莱德)-第2节
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bust。〃
Kneeling down again he examined the broken foreleg more carefully。
Gentle as was his touch； yet Link knew it must cause infinite torture。 But
the dog did not flinch。 He seemed to understand that Ferris meant kindly；
for he moved his magnificent head far enough to lick the man's hand softly
and in gratitude。
The caress had an odd effect on the loveless Ferris。 It was the first
voluntary mark of affection he had encountered for longer than he liked to
remember。 It set old memories to working。
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HIS DOG
The Ferris farm； since Link's birth； had been perhaps the only home in
all that wild region which did not boast a dog of some kind。 Link's father
had had an inborn hatred of dogs。 He would not allow one on the place。
His overt excuse was that they killed sheep and worried cattle； and that he
could not afford to risk the well…being of his scanty hoard of stock。
Thus； Link had grown to manhood with no dog at his heels； and
without knowing the normal human's love for canine chumship。
The primal instinct； long buried； stirred within him now； at touch of
the warm tongue on his calloused hand and at sound of that friendly tail
wagging in the dry grass。 Ashamed of the stirrings in him； he sought to
explain them by reminding himself that this was probably a valuable
animal and that a reward might be offered for his return。 In which case
Link Ferris might as well profit by the cash windfall as anyone else。
Taking off his coat； Ferris spread it on the ground。 Then； lifting the
stricken collie as gently as he could； he deposited him on the coat and
rolled its frayed edges about him。 After which he picked up the swathed
invalid and bore him home。
During the mile trudge the collie's sixty pounds grew unbearably
heavy； to the half…drunk Ferris。 More than once he was minded to set
down his burden and leave the brute to his fate。
But always the tardy realization that the journey was more painful to
the dog than to himself gave Link a fresh grip on his determination。 And at
last；a long and tiring last；they reached the tumble…down farmhouse
where Link Ferris kept bachelor's hall。
Laying his patient on the kitchen table； Link lighted a candle and went
in search of such rude appliances as his father had been wont to keep in
store for any of the farm's animals that might be injured。
Three times as a lad Link had seen his father set the broken leg of a
sheep； and once he had watched the older man perform a like office for a
yearling heifer whose hind leg had become wedged between two
brookside stones and had sustained a compound fracture。 From Civil War
hospital experience the father had been a deft bonesetter。 And following
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HIS DOG
his recollection of the old man's methods； Link himself had later set the
broken leg of one of his lambs。 The operation had been a success。 He
resolved now to duplicate it。
Slowly and somewhat clumsily he went to work at the injured dog。
The collie's brave patience nerved him to greater tenderness and care。 A
veterinary would have made neater work of the bonesetting； but hardly
could have rendered the job more effective。
When the task was achieved Link brought his patient a bowl of cold
waterwhich the collie drank greedilyand some bread and meat scraps
which the feverish patient would not touch。
As he worked at his bonesetting task； Ferris had more chance to study
his new acquisition。 The dog was youngprobably not more than two
years old。 The teeth proved that。 He wore a thin collie collar with no
inscription on its silver band。
Even to Link's inexperienced eye he was an animal of high breeding
and of glorious beauty。 Link told himself he would perhaps get as much as
ten dollars for the return of so costly a pet。 And he wondered why the
golden prospect did not seem more alluring。
Three times in the night Link got up to give the collie fresh water and
to moisten and re…adjust the bandages。 And； every time； the sight of his
rescuer would cause the dog's tail to thump a joyous welcome and would
fill the dark eyes with a loving gratitude which went straight to Ferris's
lonely heart。
In the morning the dog was prevailed upon to lap a saucer of warm
milk； and even to nibble at a crust of soaked bread。 Link was ashamed of
his own keen and growing interest in his find。 For the first time he realized
how bleakly lonesome had been his home life； since the death of his father
had left him solitary。
There was a mysteriously comforting companionship in the dog's
presence。 Link found himself talking to him from time to time as to a
fellow human。 And the words did not echo back in eerie hollowness
from the walls； as when he had sometimes sought to ease his desolation
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HIS DOG
by talking aloud to himself。
He was embarrassed by his general ignorance of dogs； and by his
ignorance of this particular dog's name。 He sought to learn what the collie
had been called； by trying one familiar dog name after another。 But； to
such stand…by cognomens as Rover； Tige； Fido； Ponto； Shep and the rest；
the patient gave no further sign of recognition than a friendly wagging of
his plumed tail。 And he wagged it no more interestedly for one name than
for another。
So Ferris ceased from the effort； and decided to give his pet a brand…
new name for such brief space as they should be housemates。 After long
deliberation he hit upon the name 〃Chum；〃 as typical of the odd friendship
that was springing to life between the dog and himself。 And he planned to
devote much time to teaching the collie this name。
But； to his surprise； no such tedious period of instruction was
necessary。 In less than a single day Chum knew his name；knew it past all
doubt。
Link was amazed at such cleverness。 For three solid months； at one
time； he had striven to teach his horse and his cows and a few of his sheep
to respond to given names。 And at the end of the course of patient tutelage
he had been morbidly certain that not one of his solemn…eyed pupils had
grasped the lessons。
It was surprisingly pleasant to drop in at the kitchen door nowadays； in
intervals between chores or at the day's end； and be greeted by that glad
glint of the eye and the ecstatic pounding of the wavy tail against the floor。
It was still pleasanter to see the gaze of wistful adoration that
strengthened daily as Chum and his new master grew better and better
acquainted。
Pleasantest of all was it to sit and talk to the collie in the once…tedious
evenings； and to know that his every word was appreciated and listened to
with eager interest； even if the full gist of the talk itself did not penetrate to
the listener's understanding。
Link Ferris； for the first time in his life； had a dog。 Incidentally； for the
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first time in his life； he had an intimate friendsomething of whose love
and loyalty he waxed increasingly sure。 And he was happy。
His brighter spirits manifested themselves in his farm work；
transforming drudgery into contentment。 And the farm began； in small
ways； to show the effects of its owner's new attitude toward labor。
The day after he found Chum； Link had trudged to Hampton； and；
there； had affixed to the clapboards of the general store a bit of paper
whereon he had scrawled：
〃Found…One white and brown bird dog with leg broken。 Owner can
have same by paying a reward。〃
On his next huckster trip to Craigswold he pinned a similar sign to the
bulletin board of that rarefied resort's post…office。 And he waited f
