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Then its jes warm an anxious I am to be hearin you explain yourself, he said. Spankers gone, Henry answered. Without haste, with the air of one resigned to misfortune, Bill turned his head, and from where he sat counted the dogs. Howd it happen? he asked apathetically. Henry shrugged his shoulders. Dont know. Unless One Ear gnawed m loose. He couldnt a-done it himself, thats sure. The darned cuss. Bill spoke gravely and slowly, with no hint of the anger that was raging within. Jes because he couldnt chew himself loose, he chews Spanker loose. Well, Spankers troubles is over, anyway; I guess hes digested by this time an cavortin over the landscape in the bellies of twenty different wolves, was Henrys epitaph on this, the latest lost dog. Have some coffee, Bill. But Bill shook his head. Go on, Henry pleaded, elevating the pot. Bill shoved his cup aside. Ill be ding-dong-danged if I do. I said I wouldnt if ary dog turned up missin, an I wont. Its darn good coffee, Henry said enticingly. But Bill was stubborn, and he ate a dry breakfast, washed down with mumbled curses at One Ear for the trick he had played. Ill tie em up out of reach of each other tonight, Bill said, as they took the trail. They had traveled little more than a hundred yards, when Henry, who was in front, bent down and picked up something with which his snowshoe had collided. It was dark, and he could not see it, but he recognized it by the touch. He flung it back, so that it struck the sled and bounced along until it fetched up on Bills snowshoes. Mebbe youll need that in your business, Henry said. Bill uttered an exclamation. It was all that was left of Spankerthe stick with which he had been tied. They ate m hide an all, Bill announced. The sticks as clean as a whistle. Theyve ate the leather offen both ends. Theyre damn hungry, Henry, an theyll have you an me guessin before this trips over. Henry laughed defiantly. I aint been trailed this way by wolves before, but Ive gone through a whole lot worse an kept my health. Takes moren a handful of them pesky critters to do for yours truly, Bill, my son. I dont know, I dont know, Bill muttered ominously. Well, youll know all right when we pull into McGurry. I aint feelin special enthusiastic, Bill persisted. Youre off color, thats whats the matter with you, Henry dogmatized. What you need is quinine, an Im goin to dose you up stiff as soon as we make McGurry. |
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