They were up to him now : the sheep-dogs walk- 

 ing round him on their toes, stiff and short like 

 cats on coals ; their backs a little humped, heads 

 averted, yet eyeing him askance. 



And he remained stock still, nor looked at them. 

 His great chin was cocked, his muzzle wrinkled in 

 a dreadful grin. As he stood there, shivering a 

 little, eyes rolling back, breath grating in his throat 

 to set every bristle on edge, he looked infernal. 



The Venus ranged alongside him. No pre- 

 liminary stage for her : she never walked where 

 she could stand or stood where she could lie. 

 But stand she must now, breathing hard through 

 her nose, never taking her eyes off that pad she 

 had marked for her own. Close beside her were 

 crop-eared Grip and Grapple, looking up at the 

 line above them where, hairy neck and shoulder 

 joined. Behind was big Rasper, and close to 

 him, Lassie. Of the others each had marked his 

 place, each taken up his post. 



Last of all, old Shep took his stand full in front 

 of his enemy, their shoulders almost rubbing, 

 head past head. 



So the two stood a moment, as though whisper- 

 ing ; each diabolic, each rolling back red eyes to 

 watch the other ; while from the little mob there 

 rose a snarling, bubbling snore, like giants 

 wheezing in their sleep. 



Then like lightning each struck. Rearing high, 

 213 



