Page:Edison Marshall--Shepherds of the wild.djvu/79

Rh of one of the lower creatures. Instead, Hugh couldn't get away from a haunting idea that the dog's expression was one of pathetic appeal. It was almost as if the animal had spoken in words, and Hugh could not laugh at his own discomfort. "Aid me," the dog seemed to say. "Help me keep my trust. The odds are long against me, so give me your aid."

The dog leaped from his arms; then ran forward a little way, barking, toward the sheep. But Hugh laughed and called him back again.

"Good-by, old fellow," he said. "Mind the sheep!"

The dog whined softly, and Hugh tried not to understand.

"There'll be a herder up here in a day or two, if the owner can procure one. And I've left out food for you. Good-by again, for the last time."

But the concluding words of that farewell the animal did not seem to hear. Hugh felt him stiffen in his arms and saw that the intelligent eyes were gazing away, over the flock toward the river. Hugh followed the line of sight, but all he could see was the shadows, bleached here and there by the bodies of the sheep. Then the dog leaped frantically from his arms.

Hugh watched him till the shadows hid him, saw him encircle the wing of the flock, and race at top speed toward the river. It was as if a message had come to him to which Hugh was deaf, that the dog's eyes had discerned some