When half-way down the hill on their return they saw Katy, who had been at the beach, wave her handkerchief, and turn to come and meet them. At the same instant they caught sight of wolfish figures stealing along among the rocks and bushes at the base.
"The wild dogs!" both exclaimed, in the same breath, and both felt their blood stop flowing for an instant, for in a minute or two more Katy would meet the brutes1, and she must do so before they could get there to help her. They shouted to her, as they hurried at neck-breaking speed down the rough ledges2; but she did not hear or did not understand them, and then they lost sight of both her and the dogs behind some bushes. A moment later they saw her again, but with what surprise!
The girl stood in the middle of a smooth, grassy3 plat, facing the three dogs, which were gathered in a group, the father of the family in front, and only a few feet from her. All were silent, and the big one was stretching his neck forward, as if debating whether he dared lead his mate and the pup any closer. Katy caught a glimpse of the boys, and quickly raised her right hand, as though signing to them not to advance; but she never took her eye off the animals, nor ceased to speak to them in coaxing4 tones, while she held out her left hand beckoning5 them to come nearer. Thus far this had had no effect. The big leader could not make up his mind to trust her, though as yet he showed no disposition6 to attack.
"What shall we do?" Aleck whispered to Tug7, in an agony of suspense8. "She can't keep that up long. Let us rush in."
"All right," Tug whispered back; "but we must get a stone or a club! 'Twon't do to go at 'em naked-handed."
Clubs were not handy, but each took heavy stones in both hands, and began a stealthy advance. At that same instant they saw the foremost dog begin to wag his tail slowly, while, one by one, as it were, the hairs upon the back of his neck were lowered. The lads halted, and watched the scene with astonishment9 and anxiety. Katy still spoke10 coaxingly11, and at last took a gentle step forward. The dog, though suspicious, still wagged his tail. She quietly walked backward three or four steps, and sat down upon a bowlder—an act which the lesser12 dogs behind at once imitated. "Good dog! fine fellow! come here; come, Tiger," she said, over and over, changing the name every time in hopes of hitting some one that might have been this mastiff's before he was an outcast. Finally, as she sat there with her eyes steadily13 on his, and beginning to feel very tired, the animal's big square face suggested a picture she had seen of a German prince, just then beginning to become famous.
"Why, Bismarck!" she called out, in confident tones, "don't you know me? and don't you want a bone? Good old Bismarck!"
She knew instantly that she had hit it. The dog dropped his ears and hung his head, walked slowly up, and laid his great muzzle14, big as a tiger's almost, in her lap, while slowly and suspiciously his followers15 came nearer and nearer to her by slow advances.
"Well, I vum!" muttered Tug, in utter amazement16, while Aleck was too astounded17 to say even that much. "I'm 'fraid we shall spoil that very pretty tea-party unless we sneak18 home another way; and I 'low two or three bullets in the gun would do no harm."
But their first movement was heard. The mastiff lifted his head, erected19 his mane, and with a hoarse20 growl21 sprang towards the lads. Katy was terribly frightened, but kept her presence of mind.
"Bismarck!" she commanded sternly, "keep quiet! come back here, sir!" and the great dog, growling22 and showing his teeth, stopped his course, and slowly returned to his mistress.
"Boys," the girl called out, when she saw this, "go right along, and pay no attention to the dogs. When I see you safely near the house I'll come. Don't be alarmed for me."
"Come on, Tug," said Aleck; "the sister knows best."
Just before they reached the door they turned and saw her walking slowly towards them, the huge, lean father-mastiff close by her side, quiet and submissive, and the mother of the wild crew following tamely in his footsteps; while the whelp, that had never known, as the older dogs had, what it was to have a human master, straggled along behind, apparently23 in great doubt whether his respected parents had not lost their senses.
Tug hastily entered the house, and quickly appeared at the window with his gun at his shoulder, ready to shoot if the mastiff showed any signs of treachery; but he did nothing of the sort. Forty yards or so from the house, however, he declined to go any farther, and Katy, without once looking round, walked steadily on to the door, where her brother caught her in his arms, almost at the point of fainting, for the strain upon her nerves had nearly exhausted24 her strength.
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1
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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2
ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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3
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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4
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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5
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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6
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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7
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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8
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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9
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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10
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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11
coaxingly
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| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
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12
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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13
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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14
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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15
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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16
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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17
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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18
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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19
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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20
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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21
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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22
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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23
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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24
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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