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and tried to readjust matters； but the slightest wriggle of my toe was
enough to make him snap at it so fiercely that nothing but thick woollen
bedclothes saved me from being maimed for life。
I was an hour moving my feeta hair's…breadth at a timetill they were
so that I could sleep in comfort； and I was awakened several times during
the night by angry snarls from the DogI suppose because I dared to move
a toe without his approval； though once I believe he did it simply because
I was snoring。
In the morning I was ready to get up before Snap was。 You see； I call
him Snap…Ginger…snap in full。 Some Dogs are hard to name； and some
do not seem to need itthey name themselves。
I was ready to rise at seven。 Snap was not ready till eight； so we rose at
eight。 He had little to say to the man who made the fire。 He allowed me to
dress without doing it on the table。 As I left the room to get breakfast； I
remarked：
〃Snap； my friend； some men would whip you into a different way； but
I think I know a better plan。 The doctors nowadays favor the 'no…breakfast
cure。' I shall try that。〃
It seemed cruel； but I left him without food all day。 It cost me
something to repaint the door where he scratched it； but at night he was
quite ready to accept a little food at my hands。
In a week we were very good friends。 He would sleep on my bed now
and allow me to move my feet without snapping at them； intent to do me
serious bodily harm。 The no…breakfast cure had worked wonders； in three
months we werewell； simply man and Dog； and he amply justified the
telegram he came with。
He seemed to be without fear。 If a small Dog came near； he would take
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not the slightest notice； if a medium…sized Dog； he would stick his stub of
a tail rigidly up in the air； then walk around him； scratching
contemptuously with his hind feet； and looking at the sky； the distance； the
ground； anything but the Dog； and noting his presence only by frequent
high…pitched growls。 If the stranger did not move on at once； the battle
began； and then the stranger usually moved on very rapidly。 Snap
sometimes got worsted； but no amount of sad experience could ever
inspire him with a grain of caution。 Once； while riding in a cab during the
Dog Show； Snap caught sight of an elephantine St。 Bernard taking an
airing。 Its size aroused such enthusiasm in the Pup's little breast that he
leaped from the cab window to do battle； and broke his leg。
Evidently fear had been left out of his make…up and its place supplied
with an extra amount of ginger； which was the reason of his full name。 He
differed from all other Dogs I have ever known。 For example； if a boy
threw a stone at him； he ran； not away； but toward the boy； and if the crime
was repeated； Snap took the law into his own hands； thus he was at least
respected by all。 Only myself and the porter at the office seemed to realize
his good points； and we only were admitted to the high honor of personal
friendship； an honor which I appreciated more as months went on； and by
midsummer not Carnegie； Vanderbilt； and Astor together could have raised
money enough to buy a quarter of a share in my little Dog Snap。
II
Though not a regular traveller； I was ordered out on the road in the
autumn； and then Snap and the landlady were left together； with
unfortunate developments。 Contempt on his partfear on hers； and hate on
both。
I was placing a lot of barb…wire in the northern tier of States。 My
letters were forwarded once a week； and I got several complaints from the
landlady about Snap。
Arrived at Mendoza； in North Dakota； I found a fine market for wire。
Of course my dealings were with the big storekeepers； but I went about
among the ranchmen to get their practical views on the different styles；
and thus I met the Penroof Brothers' Cow…outfit。
One cannot be long in Cow country now without hearing a great deal
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about the depredations of the ever wily and destructive Gray…wolf。 The
day has gone by when they can be poisoned wholesale； and they are a
serious drain on the rancher's profits。 The Penroof Brothers； like most live
cattle…men； had given up all attempts at poisoning and trapping； and were
trying various breeds of Dogs as Wolf…hunters； hoping to get a little sport
out of the necessary work of destroying the pests。
Foxhounds had failedthey were too soft for fighting； Great Danes
were too clumsy； and Greyhounds could not follow the game unless they
could see it。 Each breed had some fatal defect； but the cow…men hoped to
succeed with a mixed pack； and the day when I was invited to join in a
Mendoza Wolf…hunt； I was amused by the variety of Dogs that followed。
There were several mongrels； but there were also a few highly bred Dogs
in particular； some Russian Wolfhounds that must have cost a lot of
money。
Hilton Penroof； the oldest boy； 〃The Master of Hounds；〃 was
unusually proud of them； and expected them to do great things。
〃Greyhounds are too thin…skinned to fight a Wolf； Danes are too slow；
but you'll see the fur fly when the Russians take a hand。〃
Thus the Greyhounds were there as runners； the Danes as heavy
backers； and the Russians to do the important fighting。 There were also
two or three Foxhounds； whose fine noses were relied on to follow the
trail if the game got out of view。
It was a fine sight as we rode away among the Badland Buttes that
October day。 The air was bright and crisp； and though so late； there was
neither snow nor frost。 The Horses were fresh； and once or twice showed
me how a Cow…pony tries to get rid of his rider。
The Dogs were keen for sport； and we did start one or two gray spots
in the plain that Hilton said were Wolves or Coyotes。 The Dogs trailed
away at full cry； but at night； beyond the fact that one of the Greyhounds
had a wound on his shoulder； there was nothing to show that any of them
had been on a Wolf…hunt。
It's my opinion yer fancy Russians is no good； Hilt；〃 said Garvin； the
younger brother。 〃I'll back that little black Dane against the lot； mongrel
an' all as he is。〃
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〃I don't unnerstan' it；〃 growled Hilton。 〃There ain't a Coyote； let alone
a Gray…wolf； kin run away from them Greyhounds； them Foxhounds kin
folly a trail three days old； an' the Danes could lick a Grizzly。〃
〃I reckon；〃 said the father； 〃they kin run； an' they kin track； an' they
kin lick a Grizzly； maybe； but the fac' is they don't want to tackle a Gray…
wolf。 The hull darn pack is scairtan' I wish we had our money out o'
them。〃
Thus the men grumbled and discussed as I drove away and left them。
There seemed only one solution of the failure。 The Hounds were swift
and strong； but a Gray…wolf seems to terrorize all Dogs。 They have not the
nerve to face him； and so； each tim