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undertook。
〃They went into possession that afternoon； and old Hard Times set out
to cook his supper。 When it was over he sat down by the embers and lit
his pipe； the yellow dog lying at his feet。 Suddenly 'Rap！ rap！' comes
from the door。 'Come in；' says the man； gruffly。 'Rap！' again。 'Come in
and be dd to you；' says the man； who has no idea of getting up to open
the door。 But no one responded； and the next moment smash goes the
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only sound pane in the only window。 Seeing this； old Hard Times gets up；
with the devil in his eye； and a revolver in his hand； followed by the
yellow dog； with every tooth showing； and swings open the door。 No one
there！ But as the man opened the door； that yellow dog； that had been so
chipper before； suddenly begins to crouch and step backward； step by step；
trembling and shivering； and at last crouches down in the chimney；
without even so much as looking at his master。 The man slams the door
shut again； but there comes another smash。
This time it seems to come from inside the cabin； and it isn't until the
man looks around and sees everything quiet that he gets up； without
speaking； and makes a dash for the door； and tears round outside the cabin
like mad； but finds nothing but silence and darkness。 Then he comes
back swearing and calls the dog。 But that great yellow dog that the boys
would have staked all their money on is crouching under the bunk； and has
to be dragged out like a coon from a hollow tree； and lies there； his eyes
starting from their sockets； every limb and muscle quivering with fear； and
his very hair drawn up in bristling ridges。 The man calls him to the door。
He drags himself a few steps； stops； sniffs； and refuses to go further。 The
man calls him again； with an oath and a threat。 Then； what does that
yellow dog do？ He crawls edgewise towards the door； crouching himself
against the bunk till he's flatter than a knife blade； then； half way； he stops。
Then that dd yellow dog begins to walk gingerlylifting each foot up in
the air； one after the other； still trembling in every limb。 Then he stops
again。 Then he crouches。 Then he gives one little shuddering leapnot
straight forward； but up；clearing the floor about six inches； as if〃
〃Over something；〃 interrupted the Judge； hastily； lifting himself on his
elbow。
The Doctor stopped instantly。 〃Juan；〃 he said coolly； to one of the
Mexican packers； 〃quit foolin' with that riata。 You'll have that stake out
and that mule loose in another minute。 Come over this way！〃
The Mexican turned a scared； white face to the Doctor； muttering
something； and let go the deer…skin hide。 We all up…raised our voices
with one accord； the Judge most penitently and apologetically； and
implored the Doctor to go on。 〃I'll shoot the first man who interrupts you
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again；〃 added Thornton； persuasively。
But the Doctor； with his hands languidly under his head； had lost his
interest。 〃Well； the dog ran off to the hills； and neither the threats nor
cajoleries of his master could ever make him enter the cabin again。 The
next day the man left the camp。 What time is it？ Getting on to sundown；
ain't it？ Keep off my leg； will you； you dd Greaser； and stop stumbling
round there！ Lie down。〃
But we knew that the Doctor had not completely finished his story； and
we waited patiently for the conclusion。 Meanwhile the old； gray silence
of the woods again asserted itself； but shadows were now beginning to
gather in the heavy beams of the roof above； and the dim aisles seemed to
be narrowing and closing in around us。 Presently the Doctor recommenced
lazily； as if no interruption had occurred。
〃As I said before； I never put much faith in that story； and shouldn't
have told it； but for a rather curious experience of my own。 It was in the
spring of '62； and I was one of a party of four； coming up from O'Neill's；
when we had been snowed up。 It was awful weather； the snow had
changed to sleet and rain after we crossed the divide； and the water was
out everywhere； every ditch was a creek； every creek a river。 We had lost
two horses on the North Fork； we were dead beat； off the trail； and
sloshing round； with night coming on； and the level hail like shot in our
faces。 Things were looking bleak and scary when； riding a little ahead of
the party； I saw a light twinkling in a hollow beyond。 My horse was still
fresh； and calling out to the boys to follow me and bear for the light； I
struck out for it。 In another moment I was before a little cabin that half
burrowed in the black chapparal； I dismounted and rapped at the door。
There was no response。 I then tried to force the door； but it was fastened
securely from within。 I was all the more surprised when one of the boys；
who had overtaken me； told me that he had just seen through a window a
man reading by the fire。 Indignant at this inhospitality； we both made a
resolute onset against the door； at the same time raising our angry voices
to a yell。 Suddenly there was a quick response； the hurried withdrawing
of a bolt； and the door opened。
〃The occupant was a short； thick…set man； with a pale； careworn face；
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whose prevailing expression was one of gentle good humor and patient
suffering。 When we entered； he asked us hastily why we had not 'sung
out' before。
〃'But we KNOCKED！' I said； impatiently； 'and almost drove your door
in。'
〃'That's nothing；' he said； patiently。 'I'm used to THAT。'
〃I looked again at the man's patient； fateful face； and then around the
cabin。 In an instant the whole situation flashed before me。 'Are we not
near Cave City？' I asked。
〃'Yes；' he replied； 'it's just below。 You must have passed it in the
storm。'
〃'I see。' I again looked around the cabin。 'Isn