He Did Not See Me As I Came Up Back Of Him, And As He Had
Not Even Heard My Voice For Over One Year, I Was Almost Childishly
Afraid To Speak To Him.
But I finally said, "Hal, you have not
forgotten your old friend?" He turned instantly, but as I put
My hand
upon his head there was no joyous bound or lifting of the ears and
tail - just a look of recognition, then a raising up full length of the
slender body on his back legs, and putting a forefoot on each of my
shoulders as far over as he could reach, he gripped me tight, fairly
digging his toe nails into me, and with his head pressed close to my
neck he held on and on, giving little low whines that were more like
human sobs than the cry of a dog. Of course I had my arms around him,
and of course I cried, too. It was so pitifully distressing, for it
told how keenly the poor dumb beast had suffered during the year he
had been away from us. People stared, and soon there was a crowd about
us with an abundance of curiosity. Cagey explained the situation, and
from then on to train time, Hal was patted and petted and given
dainties from lunch baskets.
He was in the car next to ours, coming out, and we saw him often. Many
times there were long runs across the plains, when the only thing to
be seen, far or near, would be the huge tanks containing water for the
engines.
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