But, after all, the strains even of dogs are
limited in number; and what Nature has produced she can reproduce.
"But the apparition, just there, and at that moment, was a miracle to
me. I sat staring at it even when the boat's stem took the beach
gently, and it was Farrell who first crawled over her side to land.
His knees shook, and the dog, leaping against him, nearly bowled him
over. Then the sight of water seemed to galvanise his legs, and he
tottered frantically up the small foreshore to the cascade, beside
which he fell and drank, letting the spray drench his head, neck, and
shoulders. The animal had gone with him, gambolling and barking, and
now ran to and fro and leapt over his body three or four times, still
barking. All his welcome was for Farrell. To me, as I followed,
staggering, the animal paid no heed at all, until he saw me drawing
close, when he suddenly turned about, showed his teeth and started to
growl. His tail stiffened, the hairs on his chine bristled up, and I
believe in another moment he would have flown at me.
"Partly of knowledge, however, and partly of weakness, I checked
this.
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