He was rather larger than a pointer should be, with a head unusually wide and full, a sign of great intelligence. His nose was a bit blunt; and this, and his head, and his stubbornness, caused critics to hold that somewhere in his ancestry2 was a strain of bulldog blood.
His ears were thin and long and velvety3, drooping4 below his chops; his lips were loose and swaying, and the skin of his neck was loose and wrinkly. His eyes were a beautiful, faithful brown. His coat was a rich mahogany, and was even and glossy5. He had a magnificent chest—broad, massive, with a bone that jutted6 out like that of a turkey gobbler. Behind it was a barrel of a body, which all of Mrs. Miller’s stuffing never could make else but lean; while his ribs8 narrowed away until at his flanks they ended in a sad hollow.
In truth, Bob’s front half was much superior to his rear half, which ran off into a short, stubby tail tipped with a warty9 knob. Whether some accident had happened, to blight10 this tail in Bob’s infancy11, or whether his mother’s family had been so unexpectedly large that there had not been material enough for finishing Bob completely, no one could say. At any rate, he was not fitted with a tail such as a dog of his size and breed should have, and he was always more or less conscious of the fact.
Reference has been made to Bob’s grin. When he was tickled12 over anything his whole upper lip curled back, exposing a row of shining white teeth and brilliant red gums. Thus, grinning at one end and wagging at the other, he tried to show his pleasure. However, it was not a becoming face that he made when he grinned, and many people, not used to his oddity, mistook it for a snarl13, and were afraid. As soon as they came to know him, they understood what a good-natured fellow he was.
Indeed, a more good-natured dog never lived. Also, never lived a dog queerer and more human. No one made his acquaintance but to like him, and he was suffered to do things that would have earned rebuke14 for any dog but him.
When Ned was absent at school, sometimes Bob would become lonely, and would start out to find his master. In manner unknown—but through his nose, or ears, or eyes—he had discovered the room in which Ned was caged during school hours, and there, in his quest, he would betake himself.
If the door was open, in he would saunter, and sniff15 down the aisle16; and perhaps the first hint to Ned of Bob’s presence would be that sturdy head laid, amid titters, upon his knee.
As a rule Ned was asked by the teacher to escort Bob to the door again. But occasionally Mr. Bob would choose, rather, to climb into an empty seat, and there, by quietly curling for sleep, make amends17 for his intrusion. In this case he was allowed to remain, and the room speedily forgot that he was there.
Whether or not he learned anything of mathematics or physiology20 or grammar during his snooze may be a mooted21 question; but Ned and friends claimed that he did.
When it happened that Bob did not find Ned’s seat occupied, he hopped22 into it, and there sat bolt upright, as if to fill the vacancy23, until Ned returned. Once in a while he would refuse to get out—and then would be hauled down by the collar, and led in disgrace to the door.
With all the wisdom got in school, nevertheless Bob did many foolish tricks. For instance, he should have known better than to bury pancakes in the fall, expecting to dig them up and eat them in the winter! When the pancakes were buried, they and the ground were soft together; but when they were sought again, a month or so later, they came up—if at all—in flinty shreds24 scarcely to be told from the dirt. Yet Bob seemed not to foresee this; and even during winter thaws25 he persisted in scratching small holes and placing in them buckwheat cakes, for use in the future!
He so loved to bury things that his nose was nearly always crowned with a little ridge26 of soil. Once he brought home a five-pound roast of beef, which a neighbor had got at the butcher’s with intent to have it for dinner. Bob buried it in the garden, and for a week and more regularly uncovered it, took a few delicious gnaws27, and covered it up again.
Ned was obliged to find the neighbor another roast.
Bob was a dog not easily convinced. This is a polite way of putting it, for the trait was neither more nor less than downright stubbornness. When he would not do a thing, he wouldn’t, until at last persuaded by kind words, or hope of reward, or fear of punishment.
Ned found that patience and gentle argument were better than blows, to make Bob yield, so threshings were dropped from the list of “persuaders.” Bob had a keen sense of shame, and the tone of the voice could make him feel worse than the hardest licking.
His stubbornness was twice very nearly his death. The first time, he was simply bound not to budge28 one inch from the way of a heavy farm wagon29. He lay flat in the road, and waited for the wagon to turn out for him. But the wagon kept upon its route, and Bob, still sticking to his position, did nothing but howl his protests as the wheels passed over his back.
His bones being soft, he arose unhurt, and stalked off in the sulks.
The second time had as a scene the approach to the high trestle bridging a slough30 just beyond the farther end of the river bridge. Ned and Bob had been for a walk, and upon the return Bob had refused to walk the trestle. According to his custom he flopped31 down, like a spoiled child, on the spot.
Ned went ahead, hoping that at last Bob would arise and follow. He had gone a short distance, leaving Bob sprawled32 on the gravel33 in the middle of the railroad track, when suddenly he heard the rumble34 of a train, nearing from behind.
“Bob! Here, Bob! Here, Bob!” he called, running back.
But Bob dumbly declined.
“Get up! Bob! Get up!” cried Ned.
Bob, with his master coming from one way and the train coming from the other, stayed on his spot, deaf to the appeals of the former and the warnings of the latter.
The engine reached him first. Ned, horrified35, saw him hurled36 into the air, up, up, twenty feet, his legs dangling37 and his ears flopping38. Turning slow somersaults down he came, clear of the trestle, into the depths below. Ned caught a glimpse of the engineer and fireman looking back from the cab and laughing, which made him mad.
The first freeze of the fall had covered the slough with an inch of ice. Down dropped Bob, as swiftly as though he were from the dog-star, and lit squarely, in a sitting position, on a shallow place.
The sound of a shrill39 yelp40 floated up to Ned, leaning over to gaze. Bob bounced to his feet, and leaving the outlines of his hind7 parts, with a hole marking where his tail had bored, across the slough he fled, his ki-yi’s drifting behind him, fainter and fainter.
After much whistling Ned found him again, hiding in the woods. In body Bob was uninjured, but his feelings had been hurt; and for some time he could not be made to believe but that a mean trick had been played upon him by Ned and the train.
Finally he allowed himself to be coaxed41 upon the trestle, and with whimper and trembling, with tail between his legs and with many a backward glance, he made the journey across.
Thereafter he took the trestle in a hurry, without a sign of hesitation42. He had learned a lesson.
Bob’s stubbornness was not always of mischief43 to him. Sometimes it stood him in good stead, and above all in his fights. Now, Bob was not willingly a fighter. There were times when he would run from a dog not half his size. This lack of spirit was a cause of great vexation to Ned, who, while he would not have Bob a bully44 like some dogs, upon the other hand would not have him a craven and a coward.
But when cornered, or when once started, Bob was a perfect demon45 at a fight. The dog that picked upon him, thinking to be able to nag46 him without return, was likely to have a sudden rush of trouble.
Bob’s great jaws47 closed on him with a grip that no struggles could break. When Bob bit, he bit for keeps.
He had, in Beaufort, two particular enemies—almost the sole enemies that he knew. Both were white bulldogs; one lived down town in a drug store, and the other lived behind a picket48 fence, out toward the flats.
Up and down before this picket fence would race Bob, and up and down behind it would race his enemy, and between the pickets49 sped a thousand names and epithets50, the most stinging in dog language.
These were Bob’s moments of bravery; but let the bulldog dart51 out at him, around a corner or through a hole, and Bob would flee for dear life, with his foe52 bellowing53 at his heels.
This state of affairs lasted for several months, until, one day, Bob was surprised and crowded against a high sidewalk, and obliged to make a stand. The bulldog, after worrying him for a short space, on a sudden found himself matched against a very angry lion. Bob’s temper was roused. He outweighed54 the bulldog, he outdid him in strength and agility55, and that canine56 had a sorry time before the people who gathered could force Bob’s teeth to unclose from a certain white fore-leg. As for Bob, the loose skin about his throat had been all that the bulldog could seize.
The drug store dog learned a like lesson in a like way. One evening he cornered Bob in between some dry goods boxes, and set about to have fun out of him. The “fun” ended with Ned dancing around in dismay, while a policeman, by the aid of lighted matches and the handle of his club, induced Bob to let go! Then the bulldog’s owner, crestfallen59 and wrathful, carried his fallen champion home in his arms.
Bob proudly trotted on his way, licking his bloody60 chops. His enemy was retired61 for a week, and came forth57 again more discreet62, and smelling of arnica.
Yet, with all his victories, Bob never went around with a chip on his shoulder. He much preferred peace to war.
Bob’s greatest gift was swimming. The pointer family is supposed not to like the water, especially, save as a relief from the heat; but be it hot or cold, Bob was ever ready for a plunge63. His favorite fun was to get out in the middle of the river, where the current was deepest and swiftest, and swim up stream. He would do this with no object, it seemed, except showing off his powers in the water.
Ah, what a grand swimmer Bob was! With his splendid fore-shoulders high and dry above the surface, and his mighty64 chest throwing the waters aside in a rolling wave, he would plough his path, regardless of the distance, to the goal. If permitted, he would swim for hours at a time—aimlessly paddling hither and thither65, chasing stray bits of wood and even bubbles.
He would make a pretense66 at diving, but this consisted simply in sticking his head under, and withdraw it in a instant, coughing, and shaking the water out of his ears.
Had he not been gun-shy he would have been an ideal retriever for ducks. Indeed, Ned taught him to retrieve67 sticks and balls, and other things thrown for the purpose; and whether or not Bob had seen them drop, by ranging in circles he always found them and laid them at his master’s feet.
Ned also taught him to “charge.” Bob would stay crouched68 against the walk or road until Ned or Mr. Miller had gone on for a block, perhaps; his eyes would be shining with eagerness, and his body fairly quivering with excitement.
“Come on, Bob,” would sound the whistle.
One note was enough. Up would he leap, and like a cannon-ball down would he streak69, yapping with glee at every jump. He never grew tired of this game.
He would mind Ned or Mr. Miller—but upon Mrs. Miller or Maggie, the girl, he used to impose dreadfully. Let them try to stir him from the space that he had chosen before the kitchen or dining-room stove, and he would give a growl70 so gruff as to frighten them into the distance again. They would not catch the chuckle71 under the growl. However, he never tried to fool Ned or Ned’s father. When they said “Get up,” Bob got!
If he decided72 to accompany Mrs. Miller or Maggie, he always managed to do it. They might send him back, as they supposed, a dozen times; he only made a short circuit, and sneaking73 along behind fences and sidewalks would come out upon them, and grin. In spite of their scolding, and the stones and sticks that they tried to throw at him, he persevered74, and had his way.
He did not bamboozle75 the two other members of the family. It was only the women upon whom he played tricks. He knew that, with all their threats, they could not bear to hurt him.
His bedroom was the barn loft76, save when, in the hottest weather, he moved down-stairs. His favorite bed was a burrow77 in the hay; when a fresh load arrived, Bob would dig and nose into it, until he had made a long hole extending so far back that, in his nest at the end of it, he was quite out of reach.
To Bob, Ned was the whole world. It offered no bliss78 that could equal the touch of Ned’s hand, and no music that might equal the sound of Ned’s voice. Just to be near Ned was joy enough for Bob, and if allowed to snuggle at his master’s side he was in ecstasy79. A kind pat and an encouraging word was all the reward that he wanted, no matter how hard had been his task. Ned was at once his playmate and his king, and life held nothing more.
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1
miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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ancestry
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| n.祖先，家世 | |
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3
velvety
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| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
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4
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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6
jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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warty
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| adj.有疣的，似疣的；瘤状 | |
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blight
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| n.枯萎病；造成破坏的因素；vt.破坏，摧残 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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physiology
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| n.生理学，生理机能 | |
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mooted
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| adj.未决定的，有争议的，有疑问的v.提出…供讨论( moot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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23
vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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25
thaws
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| n.（足以解冻的）暖和天气( thaw的名词复数 )；（敌对国家之间）关系缓和v.（气候）解冻( thaw的第三人称单数 )；（态度、感情等）缓和；（冰、雪及冷冻食物）溶化；软化 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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gnaws
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| 咬( gnaw的第三人称单数 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
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budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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flopping
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| n.贬调v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的现在分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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41
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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42
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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43
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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44
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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45
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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46
nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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47
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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48
picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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49
pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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51
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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52
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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53
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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54
outweighed
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| v.在重量上超过( outweigh的过去式和过去分词 )；在重要性或价值方面超过 | |
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55
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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60
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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62
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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63
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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64
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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65
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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67
retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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68
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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70
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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71
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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72
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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73
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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74
persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
bamboozle
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| v.欺骗，隐瞒 | |
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76
loft
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| n.阁楼，顶楼 | |
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77
burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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78
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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79
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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