He knew how the dog would gather himself together, all ready

for that terrible leap, the second he opened the door. He knew that he

might be able to open the door for the leap without attracting the

man's attention, faced as he was the other way, if he could keep the dog

quiet. He knew how it would be. He could see that tall dark figure

rolled on the drive, struggling as one struggles with death, for breath,

under the vise-like grip on his throat. Gordon knew that the dog's

unerring spring would be for the throat; that was the instinct of his

race, a noble race in its way, to seize vice and danger by the throat,

and attack the very threshold of life.

Gordon returned to the window. It seemed to him again that he heard a

horse's trot. He felt sure that it was not the trot of the gray, who had

a slight lameness. He knew the trot of the gray. He became sure that

James and Clemency would the next moment enter the drive. He set his

mouth hard, crept toward the dog, and patted him. As he patted him he

felt the rage-crest rise higher on his back. Gordon bade him be quiet,

and slipped his leash from the staple. Then he took it from the collar.

He listened again.

It seemed to him that his ears could not deceive him.

It seemed to him that James and Clemency were coming. He was almost

delirious. He fancied he heard their voices and the girl's laugh ring

out. Holding the dog firmly by the collar, he rose and very carefully

and noiselessly slipped the bolt of the door back. Then he waited a

second. Then as slowly and carefully, still holding the dog by the

collar, and whispering commands to hush his growls, he turned the door

knob.

Then the thing was done. He flung the door open. He saw the man in the

drive, standing with his face toward the road. He had heard nothing.

Then he loosened his grasp of the straining dog's collar, and there was

a white flash of avenging brute force upon the man. Gordon saw only one

leap of the dog before the man was down. A futile pistol shot rang out.

Then came the snarl and growl of a fighting dog fastened upon his prey.




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