After Thinking The Matter Well Out, Dan Decided He Was "What You Might
Call A Tail-Less Tyke." "We've Had To Manage Without Any Wagging,
Haven't We, Brown, Old Chap?" He Said, Unconscious Of The Note In His
Voice That Told Of Lonely Years And Vague Longings.
As Brown acknowledged this reference to himself, by stirring the circle
of hairs that expressed his sentiments to the world, Dan further proved
the expansiveness of the Maluka's simile.
"You might have noticed," he went on, "that when a dog does own a tail he
generally manages to keep it out of the fight somehow." (In marriage as
Dan had known it, strong men had stood between their women and the sharp
cuffs and blows of life; "keeping her out of the fight somehow.") Then
the procession preparing to re-form, as the Maluka, catching Roper,
mounted me again, Dan completely rounded off the simile. "Dogs seem able
to wrestle through somehow without a tail," he said, "but I reckon a
tail 'ud have a bit of a job getting along without a dog." As usual,
Dan's whimsical fancy had burrowed deep into the heart of a great truth;
for, in spite of what "tails" may say, how few there are of us who have
any desire to "get along without the dog."
We left the water-hole about five o'clock, and riding into the Stirling
camp at sundown, found the Dandy there, busy at the fire, with a dozen or
so of large silver fish spread out on green leaves beside him.
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