his dog(狗儿莱德)-第9节
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opinion far more highly than the average man would have done。 Thus；
perhaps； his desire to stand well in the dog's esteem had in it more that
was commendable than ludicrous。 Or perhaps not。
If the strange association did much for Link； it did infinitely more for
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Chum。 He had found a master who had no social interests in life beyond
his dog； and who could and did devote all his scant leisure hours to
association with that dog。 Chum's sagacity and individuality blossomed
under such intensive tutelage； as might that of a clever child who is the
sole pupil of its teacher。
Link did not seek to make a trick dog of his pet。 He taught Chum to
shake hands； to lie down； to 〃speak〃 and one or two more simple
accomplishments。 It was by talking constantly to the collie； as to a fellow
human； that he broadened the dog's intelligence。 Chum grew to know and
to interpret every inflection of Ferris's voice； every simple word he spoke
and every gesture of his。
Apart from mere good fellowship the dog was proving of great use on
the farm。 Morning and night； Chum drove the sheep and the cattle to their
respective pastures and then back to the barnyard at night。 At the entrances
to the pastures； now； Ferris had rigged up rude gates with 〃bar catch〃
fasteningssimple contrivances which closed by gravity and whose bars
the dog was readily taught to shove upward with his nose。
It was thus a matter of only a few days to teach Chum to open or close
the light gates。 This trick has been taught to countless collies； of course； in
Great Britain； and to many here。 But Link did not know that。 He felt like
another Columbus or Edison； at his own genius in devising such a scheme；
and he felt an inordinate pride in Chum for learning the simple exploit so
quickly。
Of old； Link had fretted at the waste of time in taking out the sheep
and cows and in going for them at night。 This dual duty was now a thing
of the past。 Chum did the work for him； and reveled in the excitement of it。
Chum alsofrom watching Link perform the task twicehad learned to
drive the chickens out of the garden patches whenever any of them
chanced to stray thither； and to scurry into the cornfield with harrowing
barks of ejection when a flock of crows hovered hungrily above the
newly…planted crops。
All of which was continual amusement to Chum； and a tremendous
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help to his owner。
Link； getting over his initial wonder at the dog's progress； began to
take these accomplishments as a matter of course。 Indeed； he was
sometimes perplexed at the otherwise sagacious dog's limitations of brain。
For example； Chum loved the fire on the chilly evenings such as creep
over the mountain region even in midsummer。 He would watch Link
replenish the blaze with fresh sticks whenever it sank low。
Yet； left to himself； he would let the fire go out； and he never knew
enough to pick up a stick in his mouth and lay it on the embers。 This lack
of reasoning powers in his pet perplexed Ferris。
Link could not understand why the same wit which sent Chum half a
mile； of his own accord； in search of one missing sheep out of the entire
flock； should not tell him that a fire is kept alive by the putting of wood on
it。
In search of some better authority on dog intelligence； Link paid his
first visit to Hampton's little public library。 There； shamefacedly； he asked
the boy in charge for some books about dogs。 The youth looked idly for a
few minutes in a crossindex file。 Then he brought forth a tome called 〃The
Double Garden；〃 written by someone who was evidently an Eyetalian or
Polack or other foreigner； because he bore the grievously un…American
name of 〃Maeterlinck〃。
〃This is all I can find about dogs；〃 explained the boy； passing the
linen…jacketed little volume across the counter to Link。 〃First story in it is
an essay on 'Our Friend； the Dog；' the index says。 Want it？〃
That evening； by his kitchen lamp； Ferris read laboriously the Belgian
philosopher's dog essay。 He read it aloudas he had taken to thinking
aloudfor Chum's benefit。 And there were many parts of the immortal
essay from which the man gleaned no more sense than did the collie。
It began with a promising account of a puppy named Pelleas。 But
midway it branched off into something else。 Something Link could not
make head nor tail of。 Then； on second reading； bits of Maeterlinck's
meaning； here and there； seeped into Ferris's bewilderedly groping
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intellect。
He learned； among other things； that Man is all alone on earth； that
most animals don't know he is here； and that the rest of them have no use
for him。 That even flowers and crops will desert him and run again to
wildness； if Man turns his back on them for a minute。 So will his horse； his
cow and his sheep。 They graft on him for a living； and they hate or ignore
him。
The dog alone； Link spelled out； has pierced the vast barrier between
humans and other beasts； and has ranged himself； willingly and joyously；
on the side of Man。 For Man's sake the dog will not only starve and suffer
and lay down his life； but will betray his fellow quadrupeds。 Man is the
dog's god。 And the dog is the only living mortal that has the privilege of
looking upon the face of his deity。
All of which was doubtless very interesting； and part of which thrilled
Ferris； but none of which enlightened him as to a dog's uncanny wisdom
in certain things and his blank stupidity in others。 Next day Link returned
the book to the library； no wiser than before； albeit with a higher
appreciation of his own good luck in being the god of one splendid dog
like Chum。
July had drowsed into August； and August was burning its sultry way
toward September。 Link's quarterly check from the Paterson Market
arrived。 And Ferris went as usual to the Hampton store to get it cashed。
This tine he stood in less dire need of money's life…saving qualities than of
yore。 It had been a good summer for Link。 The liquor out of his system
and with a new interest in life； he had worked with a snap and vigor which
had brought results in hard cash。
None the less； he was glad for this check。 In another month the annual
interest。 on his farm mortgage would fall due。 And the meeting of that
payment was always a problem。 This year he would be less cruelly
harassed by it than before。
Yet； all the more； he desired extra money。 For a startlingly original
ambition had awakened recently in his heartnamely； to pay off a little of
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the mortgage's principal along with the interest。
At first the idea had staggered him。 But talking it over with Chum and
studying his thumbed…soiled ledger； he had decided there was a bare
chance he might be able to do it。
As he mounted the steps of the store； this evening in late August； he
saw； tacked to the doorside clapboards； a truly gorgeous poster。 By the
light of the flickering lamp over the door； he discerned the vivid scarlet
head of a dog in the upper corner of the yellow placard； and much display
type below it。
It was the picture of the dog which checked Link in passing。 It was a
fancy headthe head of a stately and long muzzled dog with a ruff and
with tulip ears。 In short； just such a dog as Chum。 Not knowing that Chum
was a collie and that poster artists rejoice to depict collies； by reason of the
latter's decorative qualities； Ferris was amazed by the coincidence。
After a long and critical survey of the picture； he was moved to run his
eye over the flaring reading matter。
The post
