The New King 167 



old friend Shep as formerly : when the dog 

 nipped at his heels in play he would lash out 

 viciously at him, and if Shep undertook to 

 snap at his nose in fun, he would lunge at 

 him savagely. 



His eye too lost something of its mild 

 ox-like expression and a sullen fire was 

 often seen to glow in its depths. 



When Buck finally balked and refused to 

 draw the plough for a whole half day Ben- 

 nie was thunderstruck. What did it mean ? 

 He coaxed and whipped and then coaxed 

 again but all to no purpose. 



When he told Shep to nip the buffalo's 

 heels, Buck lashed out so viciously that 

 he sent the poor dog sprawling, to his great 

 astonishment and disgust. 



Bennie finally saw that there was nothing 

 to do but wait upon the bison's pleasure, so 

 he unhitched Ulysses and went to harrow- 

 ing with the mule. For a whole half day 

 Buck stood in the furrow gazing off across 



