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better than dogs。 Ah； you are such an illogical； unreasoning race！ And
paltryoh； unspeakably！〃
Then he dropped all seriousness and just overstrained himself making fun
of us； and deriding our pride in our warlike deeds； our great heroes； our
imperishable fames； our mighty kings； our ancient aristocracies； our
venerable historyand laughed and laughed till it was enough to make a
person sick to hear him； and finally he sobered a little and said； 〃But；
after all； it is not all ridiculous； there is a sort of pathos about it
when one remembers how few are your days； how childish your pomps； and
what shadows you are！〃
Presently all things vanished suddenly from my sight； and I knew what it
meant。 The next moment we were walking along in our village； and down
toward the river I saw the twinkling lights of the Golden Stag。 Then in
the dark I heard a joyful cry：
〃He's come again！〃
It was Seppi Wohlmeyer。 He had felt his blood leap and his spirits rise
in a way that could mean only one thing； and he knew Satan was near；
although it was too dark to see him。 He came to us； and we walked along
together； and Seppi poured out his gladness like water。 It was as if he
were a lover and had found his sweetheart who had been lost。 Seppi was a
smart and animated boy； and had enthusiasm and expression； and was a
contrast to Nikolaus and me。 He was full of the last new mystery； now
the disappearance of Hans Oppert； the village loafer。 People were
beginning to be curious about it； he said。 He did not say anxious
curious was the right word； and strong enough。 No one had seen Hans for
a couple of days。
〃Not since he did that brutal thing； you know；〃 he said。
〃What brutal thing？〃 It was Satan that asked。
〃Well； he is always clubbing his dog； which is a good dog； and his only
friend； and is faithful； and loves him； and does no one any harm； and two
days ago he was at it again； just for nothingjust for pleasureand the
dog was howling and begging； and Theodor and I begged； too； but he
threatened us； and struck the dog again with all his might and knocked
one of his eyes out； and he said to us； 'There； I hope you are satisfied
now； that's what you have got for him by your damned meddling'and he
laughed； the heartless brute。〃 Seppi's voice trembled with pity and
anger。 I guessed what Satan would say； and he said it。
〃There is that misused word againthat shabby slander。 Brutes do not
act like that； but only men。〃
〃Well； it was inhuman； anyway。〃
〃No； it wasn't； Seppi； it was humanquite distinctly human。 It is not
pleasant to hear you libel the higher animals by attributing to them
dispositions which they are free from； and which are found nowhere but in
the human heart。 None of the higher animals is tainted with the disease
called the Moral Sense。 Purify your language； Seppi； drop those lying
phrases out of it。〃
He spoke pretty sternlyfor himand I was sorry I hadn't warned Seppi
to be more particular about the word he used。 I knew how he was feeling。
He would not want to offend Satan； he would rather offend all his kin。
There was an uncomfortable silence； but relief soon came； for that poor
dog came along now； with his eye hanging down； and went straight to
Satan； and began to moan and mutter brokenly； and Satan began to answer
in the same way； and it was plain that they were talking together in the
dog language。 We all sat down in the grass； in the moonlight； for the
clouds were breaking away now； and Satan took the dog's head in his lap
and put the eye back in its place； and the dog was comfortable； and he
wagged his tail and licked Satan's hand； and looked thankful and said the
same； I knew he was saying it； though I did not understand the words。
Then the two talked together a bit； and Satan said：
〃He says his master was drunk。〃
〃Yes； he was；〃 said we。
〃And an hour later he fell over the precipice there beyond the Cliff
Pasture。〃
〃We know the place； it is three miles from here。〃
〃And the dog has been often to the village； begging people to go there；
but he was only driven away and not listened to。〃
We remembered it； but hadn't understood what he wanted。
〃He only wanted help for the man who had misused him； and he thought only
of that； and has had no food nor sought any。 He has watched by his
master two nights。 What do you think of your race？ Is heaven reserved
for it； and this dog ruled out； as your teachers tell you？ Can your race
add anything to this dog's stock of morals and magnanimities？〃 He spoke
to the creature； who jumped up； eager and happy； and apparently ready for
orders and impatient to execute them。 〃Get some men； go with the doghe
will show you that carrion； and take a priest along to arrange about
insurance； for death is near。〃
With the last word he vanished； to our sorrow and disappointment。 We got
the men and Father Adolf； and we saw the man die。 Nobody cared but the
dog； he mourned and grieved； and licked the dead face； and could not be
comforted。 We buried him where he was； and without a coffin； for he had
no money； and no friend but the dog。 If we had been an hour earlier the
priest would have been in time to send that poor creature to heaven； but
now he was gone down into the awful fires； to burn forever。 It seemed
such a pity that in a world where so many people have difficulty to put
in their time； one little hour could not have been spared for this poor
creature who needed it so much； and to whom it would have made the
difference between eternal joy and eternal pain。 It gave an appalling
idea of the value of an hour； and I thought I could never waste one again
without remorse and terror。 Seppi was depressed and grieved； and said it
must be so much better to be a dog and not run such awful risks。 We took
this one home with us and kept him for our own。 Seppi had a very good
thought as we were walking along； and it cheered us up and made us feel
much better。 He said the dog had forgiven the man that had wronged him
so； and maybe God would accept that absolution。
There was a very dull week； now； for Satan did not come； nothing much was
going on； and we boys could not venture to go and see Marget； because the
nights were moonlit and our parents might find us out if we tried。 But
we came across Ursula a couple of times taking a walk in the meadows
beyond the river to air the cat； and we learned from her that things were
going well。 She had natty new clothes on and bore a prosperous look。
The four groschen a day were arriving without a break； but were not being
spent for food and wine and such thingsthe cat attended to all that。
Marget was enduring her forsakenness and isolation fairly well； all
things considered； and was cheerful； by help of Wilhelm Meidling。 She
spent an hour or two every night in the jail with her uncle； and had
fattened him up with the cat's contributions。 But she was curious to
know more about Philip Traum； and hoped I would bring him again。 Ursula
was curious about him herself； and asked a good many questions about his
uncle。 It made the boys laugh； for I had told them the nonsense Satan
had been stuffing her with。 She got no satisf