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The Sounding of the Call
Butforthestraybrownonhismuzzleandabovehiseyes,andforthesplashofwhitehairthatranmidmostdownhischest,hemightwellhavebeenmistakenforagiganticwolf,largerthanthelargestofthebreed. FromhisSt.Bernardfatherhehadinheritedsizeandweight,butitwashisshepherdmotherwhohadgivenshapetothatsizeandweight. Hismuzzlewasthelongwolfmuzzle,savethatitwaslargerthanthemuzzleofanywolf;andhishead,somewhatbroader,wasthewolfheadonamassivescale.
Hiscunningwaswolfcunning,andwildcunning;hisintelligence,shepherdintelligenceandSt.Bernardintelligence; andallthis,plusanexperiencegainedinthefiercestofschools,madehimasformidableacreatureasanythatroamedthewild. Acarnivorousanimallivingonastraightmeatdiet,hewasinfullflower,atthehightideofhislife,overspillingwithvigorandvirility. WhenThorntonpassedacaressinghandalonghisback,asnappingandcracklingfollowedthehand,eachhairdischargingitspentmagnetismatthecontact. Everypart,brainandbody,nervetissueandfibre,waskeyedtothemostexquisitepitch;andbetweenallthepartstherewasaperfectequilibriumoradjustment. Tosightsandsoundsandeventswhichrequiredaction,herespondedwithlightning-likerapidity. Quicklyasahuskydogcouldleaptodefendfromattackortoattack,hecouldleaptwiceasquickly.
