KATY TAMES THE WILD DOGS.
When half-way down the hill on their return they saw Katy, who had
been at the beach, wave her handkerchief, and turn to come and meet
them. At the same instant they caught sight of wolfish figures
stealing along among the rocks and bushes at the base.
"The wild dogs!" both exclaimed, in the same breath, and both felt
their blood stop flowing for an instant, for in a minute or two more
Katy would meet the brutes, and she must do so before they could get
there to help her. They shouted to her, as they hurried at
neck-breaking speed down the rough ledges; but she did not hear or did
not understand them, and then they lost sight of both her and the dogs
behind some bushes. A moment later they saw her again, but with what
surprise!
The girl stood in the middle of a smooth, grassy plat, facing the
three dogs, which were gathered in a group, the father of the family
in front, and only a few feet from her. All were silent, and the big
one was stretching his neck forward, as if debating whether he dared
lead his mate and the pup any closer. Katy caught a glimpse of the
boys, and quickly raised her right hand, as though signing to them not
to advance; but she never took her eye off the animals, nor ceased to
speak to them in coaxing tones, while she held out her left hand
beckoning them to come nearer. Thus far this had had no effect. The
big leader could not make up his mind to trust her, though as yet he
showed no disposition to attack.
"What shall we do?" Aleck whispered to Tug, in an agony of suspense.
"She can't keep that up long. Let us rush in."
"All right," Tug whispered back; "but we must get a stone or a club!
'Twon't do to go at 'em naked-handed."
Clubs were not handy, but each took heavy stones in both hands, and
began a stealthy advance. At that same instant they saw the foremost
dog begin to wag his tail slowly, while, one by one, as it were, the
hairs upon the back of his neck were lowered. The lads halted, and
watched the scene with astonishment and anxiety. Katy still spoke
coaxingly, and at last took a gentle step forward. The dog, though
suspicious, still wagged his tail. She quietly walked backward three
or four steps, and sat down upon a bowlder--an act which the lesser
dogs behind at once imitated. "Good dog! fine fellow! come here; come,
Tiger," she said, over and over, changing the name every time in
hopes of hitting some one that might have been this mastiff's before
he was an outcast. Finally, as she sat there with her eyes steadily on
his, and beginning to feel very tired, the animal's big square face
suggested a picture she had seen of a German prince, just then
beginning to become famous.
"Why, Bismarck!" she called out, in confident tones, "don't you know
me? and don't you want a bone? Good old Bismarck!"
She knew instantly that she had hit it. The dog dropped his ears and
hung his head, walked slowly up, and laid his great muzzle, big as a
tiger's almost, in her lap, while slowly and suspiciously his
followers came nearer and nearer to her by slow advances.
"Well, I vum!" muttered Tug, in utter amazement, while Aleck was too
astounded to say even that much. "I'm 'fraid we shall spoil that very
pretty tea-party unless we sneak home another way; and I 'low two or
three bullets in the gun would do no harm."
But their first movement was heard. The mastiff lifted his head,
erected his mane, and with a hoarse growl sprang towards the lads.
Katy was terribly frightened, but kept her presence of mind.
"Bismarck!" she commanded sternly, "keep quiet! come back here, sir!"
and the great dog, growling and showing his teeth, stopped his
course, and slowly returned to his mistress.
"Boys," the girl called out, when she saw this, "go right along, and
pay no attention to the dogs. When I see you safely near the house
I'll come. Don't be alarmed for me."
"Come on, Tug," said Aleck; "the sister knows best."
Just before they reached the door they turned and saw her walking
slowly towards them, the huge, lean father-mastiff close by her side,
quiet and submissive, and the mother of the wild crew following tamely
in his footsteps; while the whelp, that had never known, as the older
dogs had, what it was to have a human master, straggled along behind,
apparently in great doubt whether his respected parents had not lost
their senses.
Tug hastily entered the house, and quickly appeared at the window with
his gun at his shoulder, ready to shoot if the mastiff showed any
signs of treachery; but he did nothing of the sort. Forty yards or so
from the house, however, he declined to go any farther, and Katy,
without once looking round, walked steadily on to the door, where her
brother caught her in his arms, almost at the point of fainting, for
the strain upon her nerves had nearly exhausted her strength.