How
I was to find a crossing I could not guess. Whether to search to
the east toward the still loftier barrier-cliffs fronting upon the
ocean, or westward in the direction of the inland sea was a question
which baffled me. Were there many passes or only one? I had no
way of knowing. I could but trust to chance. It never occurred
to me that Nobs had made the crossing at least once, possibly
a greater number of times, and that he might lead me to the pass;
and so it was with no idea of assistance that I appealed to him as
a man alone with a dumb brute so often does.
"Nobs," I said, "how the devil are we going to cross those cliffs?"
I do not say that he understood me, even though I realize that an
Airedale is a mighty intelligent dog; but I do swear that he seemed
to understand me, for he wheeled about, barking joyously and trotted
off toward the west; and when I didn't follow him, he ran back to
me barking furiously, and at last taking hold of the calf of my leg
in an effort to pull me along in the direction he wished me to go.
Now, as my legs were naked and Nobs' jaws are much more powerful
than he realizes, I gave in and followed him, for I knew that
I might as well go west as east, as far as any knowledge I had of
the correct direction went.
We followed the base of the cliffs for a considerable distance.
Pages:
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145