The whole petty business of living seemed a long way behind
me now.
Languidly at last I opened my eyes. Within three yards of me, in
the open rock-paved glade where I had fallen, stood the Thing.
As softly as I had opened my eyes I shut them. I had an annoyed
conviction that they were deceiving me--a very unworthy thing for
eyes to do that were soon to be closed in death. Again I lifted my
lids. Yes, there it was--only now it had put an ear back and was
sniffing at me with a mingling of interest and apprehension..
The strange beast of the jungle was a white bull-terrier.
Abruptly I sat up. The terrier gave a startled sidewise bound, but
paused again and stood regarding me.
"Here, pup! Here, pup! Nice, nice doggums!" I said in soothing
accents.
The dog gave a low whine and stood shivering, eager but afraid. I
continued my blandishments. Little by little the forlorn creature
drew nearer, until I put out a cautious hand and stroked his ears.
He dodged affrightedly, but presently crept back again. Soon his
head was against my knee, and he was devouring my hand with avid
caresses. Some time, before his abandonment on the island, he had
been a well-brought-up and petted animal. Months or years of wild
life had estranged him from humanity, yet at the human touch the
old devotion woke again.
The thing now was to lure him back to camp and restore him to the
happy service of his gods.
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