And the hound
often goes out to make him little visits, and the sight is pathetic.
That big dog of the chaplain's is still here, and how the good man can
conscientiously have him about, I cannot understand.
Colonel Knight has two large dogs also, but they are shut in the
stable most of the time to guard his pair of valuable horses. The
horses are not particularly fast or spirited, but they are very
beautiful and perfectly matched in color and gait.
Ever since Hal has been old enough to run with a horse, he has always
gone with me riding or driving. So the first time we drove with
Colonel Knight I called Hal to go with us and he ran out of the house
and over the fence with long joyful bounds, to be instantly pounced
upon, and rolled over into the acequia by the two big dogs of Colonel
Knight's that I had not even heard of! Hal has splendid fighting blood
and has never shown cowardice, but he is still a young dog and
inexperienced, and no match for even one old fighter, and to have two
notoriously savage, bloodthirsty beasts gnawing at him as though he
was a bone was terrible. But Hal apparently never thought of running
from them, and after the one howl of surprise gave his share of
vicious growls and snaps. But the old dogs were protected by their
heavy hair, while Hal's short coat and fine skin were easily torn.
We all rushed to his rescue, for it looked as though he would be torn
in pieces, and when I saw a long cut in his tender skin I was frantic.
But finally the two black dogs were pulled off and Hal was dragged out
of the ditch and back to the house, holding back and growling all the
time, which showed plainly he was not satisfied with the way the
affair had ended. The drive that day I did not enjoy!
Hal was not torn so deeply as to have unsightly scars, for which I was
thankful. From that day on, however, he not only hated those dogs, but
disliked the man who cares for them, and seemed to consider him
responsible for their very existence. And it was wonderful that he
should recognize Cressy's step on the ground as he passed at the side
of our house. Several times when he would be stretched out on the
floor, to all appearances fast asleep, I have seen him open his eyes
wide and growl when the man and dogs were passing, although it was
perfectly impossible for him to have seen them.
One morning about ten days ago when I was on the second floor, I heard
an awful noise downstairs - whines, growls, and howls all so mingled
together one would have thought there were a dozen dogs in the house.
I ran down to see what could possibly be the matter, and found Hal at
a window in the dining room that looked out on the back yard, every
hair on his brindled back standing straight up and each white tooth
showing. Looking out I saw that Turk, the more savage of the two black
dogs, was in the yard and could not get out over the high board fence.
Cressy was probably on guard that day, and sentry over the prisoners
who had brought water. The dog must have followed him in and then
managed to get left.
Hal looked up at me, and for one instant kept perfectly still, waiting
to see what I would do. His big brown eyes were almost human in their
beseeching, and plainly said, "You cannot have forgotten - you will
surely let me out!" And let him out I did. I opened the doors leading
to the yard, and almost pushing me over he rushed to the black dog
with great leaps and the most blood-curdling growls, jumping straight
over him, then around him, then over him again and again, and so like
a whirlwind, the poor black beast was soon crazy, for snap as fast as
he might, it was ever at the clear, beautiful air. Hal was always just
out of reach.
After he had worried the dog all he wanted to Hal. proceeded to
business. With a greyhound trick, he swung himself around with great
force and knocked the big dog flat upon the ground, and holding him
down with his two paws he pulled out mouthful after mouthful of long
hair, throwing it out of his mouth right and left. If the dog
attempted to raise his big head Hal was quick to give a wicked snap
that made the head fall down again. When I saw that Hal had actually
conquered the dog and had proved that he-was the splendid hound I had
ever considered him to be, I told West to go out at once and separate
them. But for the very first time West was slow - he went like a snail.
It seemed that one of the dogs had snapped at his leg once, and I
believe he would have been delighted if Hal had gnawed the dog flesh
and bone. He pulled Hal in by his collar and opened the gate for Turk,
and soon things were quite once more.
All that day Hal's eyes were like stars, and one could almost see a
grin on his mouth. He was ever on the alert, and would frequently look
out on the yard, wag his tail and growl. The strangest thing about it
all is, that not once since that morning has he paid the slightest
attention to Cressy or the two dogs, except to growl a little when
they have happened to meet. Turk must have told his companion about
the fight, for he, too, finds attractions in another direction when he
sees Hal coming.
