Білий ікол

           Henryleftthecookingtocomeandsee. Notonlyhadhispartnertiedthedogsup,buthehadtiedthem,aftertheIndianfashion,withsticks. Abouttheneckofeachdoghehadfastenedaleatherthong. Tothis,andsoclosetotheneckthatthedogcouldnotgethisteethtoit, hehadtiedastoutstickfourorfivefeetinlength. Theotherendofthestick,inturn,wasmadefasttoastakeinthegroundbymeansofaleatherthong. Thedogwasunabletognawthroughtheleatherathisownendofthestick. Thestickpreventedhimfromgettingattheleatherthatfastenedtheotherend. 

           Henrynoddedhisheadapprovingly. 

           "It’stheonlycontraptionthat’lleverholdOneEar,"hesaid. "Hecangnawthroughleatherascleanasaknifean’jes’abouthalfasquick. Theyall’llbehereinthemornin’hunkydory." 

           "Youjes’bettheywill,"Billaffirmed."Ifoneofem’turnsupmissin’,I’llgowithoutmycoffee." 

           "Theyjes’knowweain’tloadedtokill,"Henryremarkedatbed-time,indicatingthegleamingcirclethathemmedthemin. "Ifwecouldputacoupleofshotsinto’em,they’dbemorerespectful. Theycomeclosereverynight. Getthefirelightoutofyoureyesan’lookhard—there!Didyouseethatone?" 

           Forsometimethetwomenamusedthemselveswithwatchingthemovementofvagueformsontheedgeofthefirelight. Bylookingcloselyandsteadilyatwhereapairofeyesburnedinthedarkness,theformoftheanimalwouldslowlytakeshape. Theycouldevenseetheseformsmoveattimes. 

           Asoundamongthedogsattractedthemen’sattention.