A shaggy Airedale scented1 his way along the highroad. He had not been there before, but he was guided by the trail of his brethren who had preceded him. He had gone unwillingly3 upon this journey, yet with the perfect training of dogs he had accepted it without complaint. The path had been lonely, and his heart would have failed him, traveling as he must without his people, had not these traces of countless4 dogs before him promised companionship of a sort at the end of the road.
The landscape had appeared arid5 at first, for the translation from recent agony into freedom from pain had been so numbing6 in its swiftness that it was some time before he could fully7 appreciate the pleasant dog-country through which he was passing. There were woods with leaves upon the ground through which to scurry8, long grassy9 slopes for extended runs, and lakes into which he might plunge10 for sticks and bring them back to—But he did not complete his thought, for the boy was not with him. A little wave of homesickness possessed11 him.
It made his mind easier to see far ahead a great gate as high as the heavens, wide enough for all. He understood that only man built such barriers and by straining his eyes he fancied he could discern humans passing through to whatever lay beyond. He broke into a run that he might the more quickly gain this inclosure made beautiful by men and women; but his thoughts outran his pace, and he remembered that he had left the family behind, and again this lovely new compound became not perfect, since it would lack the family.
The scent2 of the dogs grew very strong now, and coming nearer, he discovered, to his astonishment12 that of the myriads13 of those who had arrived ahead of him thousands were still gathered on the outside of the portal. They sat in a wide circle spreading out on each side of the entrance, big, little, curly, handsome, mongrel, thoroughbred dogs of every age, complexion14, and personality. All were apparently15 waiting for something, someone, and at the pad of the Airedale's feet on the hard road they arose and looked in his direction.
That the interest passed as soon as they discovered the new-comer to be a dog puzzled him. In his former dwelling-place a four-footed brother was greeted with enthusiasm when he was a friend, with suspicious diplomacy16 when a stranger, and with sharp reproof17 when an enemy; but never had he been utterly18 ignored.
He remembered something that he had read many times on great buildings with lofty entrances. "Dogs not admitted," the signs had said, and he feared this might be the reason for the waiting circle outside the gate. It might be that this noble portal stood as the dividing-line between mere19 dogs and humans. But he had been a member of the family, romping20 with them in the living-room, sitting at meals with them in the dining-room, going upstairs at night with them, and the thought that he was to be "kept out" would be unendurable.
He despised the passive dogs. They should be treating a barrier after the fashion of their old country, leaping against it, barking, and scratching the nicely painted door. He bounded up the last little hill to set them an example, for he was still full of the rebellion of the world; but he found no door to leap against. He could see beyond the entrance dear masses of people, yet no dog crossed the threshold. They continued in their patient ring, their gaze upon the winding21 road.
He now advanced cautiously to examine the gate. It occurred to him that it must be fly-time in this region, and he did not wish to make himself ridiculous before all these strangers by trying to bolt through an invisible mesh22 like the one that had baffled him when he was a little chap. Yet there were no screens, and despair entered his soul. What bitter punishment these poor beasts must have suffered before they learned to stay on this side the arch that led to human beings! What had they done on earth to merit this? Stolen bones troubled his conscience, runaway23 days, sleeping in the best chair until the key clicked in the lock. These were sins.
At that moment an English bull-terrier, white, with liver-colored spots and a jaunty24 manner, approached him, snuffling in a friendly way. No sooner had the bull-terrier smelt25 his collar than he fell to expressing his joy at meeting him. The Airedale's reserve was quite thawed26 by this welcome, though he did not know just what to make of it.
"I know you! I know you!" exclaimed the bull-terrier, adding inconsequently, "What's your name?"
"Tam o'Shanter. They call me Tammy," was the answer, with a pardonable break in the voice.
"I know them," said the bull-terrier. "Nice folks."
"Best ever," said the Airedale, trying to be nonchalant, and scratching a flea27 which was not there. "I don't remember you. When did you know them?"
"About fourteen tags ago, when they were first married. We keep track of time here by the license-tags. I had four."
"This is my first and only one. You were before my time, I guess." He felt young and shy.
"Come for a walk, and tell me all about them," was his new friend's invitation.
"Aren't we allowed in there?" asked Tam, looking toward the gate.
"Sure. You can go in whenever you want to. Some of us do at first, but we don't stay."
"Like it better outside?"
"No, no; it isn't that."
"Then why are all you fellows hanging around here? Any old dog can see it's better beyond the arch."
"You see, we're waiting for our folks to come."
The Airedale grasped it at once, and nodded understandingly.
"I felt that way when I came along the road. It wouldn't be what it's supposed to be without them. It wouldn't be the perfect place."
"Not to us," said the bull-terrier.
"Fine! I've stolen bones, but it must be that I have been forgiven, if I'm to see them here again. It's the great good place all right. But look here," he added as a new thought struck him, "do they wait for us?"
The older inhabitant coughed in slight embarrassment28.
"The humans couldn't do that very well. It wouldn't be the thing to have them hang around outside for just a dog—not dignified29."
"Quite right," agreed Tam. "I'm glad they go straight to their mansions30. I'd—I'd hate to have them missing me as I am missing them." He sighed. "But, then, they wouldn't have to wait so long."
"Oh, well, they're getting on. Don't be discouraged," comforted the terrier. "And in the meantime it's like a big hotel in summer—watching the new arrivals. See, there is something doing now."
All the dogs were aroused to excitement by a little figure making its way uncertainly up the last slope. Half of them started to meet it, crowding about in a loving, eager pack.
"Look out; don't scare it," cautioned the older animals, while word was passed to those farthest from the gate: "Quick! Quick! A baby's come!"
Before they had entirely31 assembled, however, a gaunt yellow hound pushed through the crowd, gave one sniff32 at the small child, and with a yelp33 of joy crouched35 at its feet. The baby embraced the hound in recognition, and the two moved toward the gate. Just outside the hound stopped to speak to an aristocratic St. Bernard who had been friendly:
"Sorry to leave you, old fellow," he said, "but I'm going in to watch over the kid. You see, I'm all she has up here."
The bull-terrier looked at the Airedale for appreciation36.
"That's the way we do it," he said proudly.
"Yes, but—" the Airedale put his head on one side in perplexity.
"Yes, but what?" asked the guide.
"The dogs that don't have any people—the nobodies' dogs?"
"That's the best of all. Oh, everything is thought out here. Crouch34 down,—you must be tired,—and watch," said the bull-terrier.
Soon they spied another small form making the turn in the road. He wore a Boy Scout37's uniform, but he was a little fearful, for all that, so new was this adventure. The dogs rose again and snuffled, but the better groomed38 of the circle held back, and in their place a pack of odds39 and ends of the company ran down to meet him. The Boy Scout was reassured40 by their friendly attitude, and after petting them impartially41, he chose an old-fashioned black and tan, and the two passed in.
Tam looked questioningly.
"They didn't know each other!" he exclaimed.
"But they've always wanted to. That's one of the boys who used to beg for a dog, but his father wouldn't let him have one. So all our strays wait for just such little fellows to come along. Every boy gets a dog, and every dog gets a master."
"I expect the boy's father would like to know that now," commented the Airedale. "No doubt he thinks quite often, 'I wish I'd let him have a dog.'"
The bull-terrier laughed.
"You're pretty near the earth yet, aren't you?"
Tam admitted it.
"I've a lot of sympathy with fathers and with boys, having them both in the family, and a mother as well."
The bull-terrier leaped up in astonishment.
"You don't mean to say they keep a boy?"
"Sure; greatest boy on earth. Ten this year."
"Well, well, this is news! I wish they'd kept a boy when I was there."
The Airedale looked at his new friend intently.
"See here, who are you?" he demanded.
But the other hurried on:
"I used to run away from them just to play with a boy. They'd punish me, and I always wanted to tell them it was their fault for not getting one."
"Who are you, anyway?" repeated Tam. "Talking all this interest in me, too. Whose dog were you?"
"You've already guessed. I see it in your quivering snout. I'm the old dog that had to leave them about ten years ago."
"Yes, I'm Bully." They nosed each other with deeper affection, then strolled about the glades43 shoulder to shoulder. Bully the more eagerly pressed for news. "Tell me, how are they getting along?"
"Very well indeed; they've paid for the house."
"No. They said they couldn't stand it to see another dog in your old place."
Bully stopped to howl gently.
"That touches me. It's generous in you to tell it. To think they missed me!"
For a little while they went on in silence, but as evening fell, and the light from the golden streets inside of the city gave the only glow to the scene, Bully grew nervous and suggested that they go back.
"We can't see so well at night, and I like to be pretty close to the path, especially toward morning."
"And I will point them out. You might not know them just at first."
"Oh, we know them. Sometimes the babies have so grown up they're rather hazy46 in their recollection of how we look. They think we're bigger than we are; but you can't fool us dogs."
"It's understood," Tam cunningly arranged, "that when he or she arrives you'll sort of make them feel at home while I wait for the boy?"
"That's the best plan," assented Bully, kindly47. "And if by any chance the little fellow should come first,—there's been a lot of them this summer—of course you'll introduce me?"
"I shall be proud to do it."
And so with muzzles48 sunk between their paws, and with their eyes straining down the pilgrims' road, they wait outside the gate.
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1
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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4
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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numbing
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| adj.使麻木的，使失去感觉的v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的现在分词 ) | |
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7
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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8
scurry
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| vi.急匆匆地走；使急赶；催促；n.快步急跑，疾走；仓皇奔跑声；骤雨，骤雪；短距离赛马 | |
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9
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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11
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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12
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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13
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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14
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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15
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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16
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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17
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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18
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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romping
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| adj.嬉戏喧闹的，乱蹦乱闹的v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的现在分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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21
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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22
mesh
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| n.网孔，网丝，陷阱；vt.以网捕捉，啮合，匹配；vi.适合； [计算机]网络 | |
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23
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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24
jaunty
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| adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意 | |
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25
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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26
thawed
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| 解冻 | |
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27
flea
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| n.跳蚤 | |
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28
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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29
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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30
mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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31
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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32
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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33
yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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34
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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35
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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37
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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38
groomed
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| v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的过去式和过去分词 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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39
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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40
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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41
impartially
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| adv.公平地，无私地 | |
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42
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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43
glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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44
kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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45
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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47
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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48
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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