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seat's occupants； had struck ground with terrific forcea force that had
sent him whirling through mud and grease into the ditch； with a broken
front leg。
How long the beast had lain there Link had no way of guessing。 But
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the dog was in mortal agony。 And the kindest thing to do was to put him
out of his pain。
Ferris groped around through the gloom until； in the ditch； his fingers
closed over a ten…pound stone。 One smashing blow on the head； with this
missile； would bring a swift and merciful end to the sufferer's troubles。
Poising the stone aloft； Link turned back to where the dog lay。
Standing over the victim； he balanced the rock and tensed his muscles for
the blow。 The match had long since gone out； but Link's dusk…accustomed
vision could readily discern the outlines of the collie。 And he made ready
to strike。
Thenperhaps it was the drink playing tricks with Ferris's mindit
seemed to him that he could still see those deep…set dark eyes staring up at
him through the murk； with that same fearless and yet piteous look in their
depths。 It was a look that the brief sputter of match…light had photographed
on Link's brain。
〃II ain't got the heart to swat you while you keep lookin' that way at
me；〃 he muttered half…aloud； as if to a human companion。 〃Jes' you turn
your head the other way； pup！ It'll be over quick； an' easy。〃
By the faint light Link could see the dog had not obeyed the order to
turn his head。 But at the man's tone of compassion the great plumy tail
began to thump the ground in feeble response。
〃H'm！〃 grunted Link； letting the stone drop to the road； 〃got nerve； too；
ain't you； friend？ 'Tain't every cuss that can wag his tail when his leg's
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 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；