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Circa Date
1887
Transcription
61
A sober measured self-control that in a Newfoundland or St Bernard would [have] be dignity
His merits whatever they might have been were kept well under cover
Seemed neither well or ill-bred had nothing that could be called behavior of any kind
Though easily put in motion he had little or none of that fussy twinkling jerking action belonging to small dogs legs short hair rather long but smooth & he glided lightly like a fox scarce stirring the grass or bushes
His confidence on the brink of crevasses was so unwavering that to me constantly compelled to [most] watchful caution it seemed the confidence of ignorance
Dogs show as wide range of character as men
The mist hid the precipices of the mountains & the jags & gashes of the glacier. Seemed dull grayish white without features
Not lacking courage swim icy water in waves listen to howling wolves
His highest ambition was gratified when he could go out with the hunter & see a goat or deer killed & brought to camp moved with all the slow unhesitating demeanor of a [superb] St Bernard
61
Dogs are poor climbers. Predominating folly
Poor forlorn heart hard bested
Insensible almost to stupidity. a duller less distinguishable dog I thought I had never seen
Beautiful & awful, capacious enough to hold an army of slain
Whether from the looks of the gulf or something he had seen in my face he suddenly became apprehensive that something was wrong. Like the instinctive fear animals experience at the approach of a hidden enemy.
Air of solemn importance which his small size rendered ludicrous [ridic]
He started in his sleep as if again on the ice bridge – so did I that night & many other nights for months & years afterward
We bestowed on him the indulgence due an idiot
Look of attention & intelligence that bespoke kindness of mind
Looked up with quick startled eye as if saying surely not these
Intellect shone in quick recognition of danger though slow going soberminded
His life went on smoothly like a stream in a level boggy channel
At first sight our case seemed as helpless as if already at the bottom of the gulf
Resource Identifier
MuirReel33 Notebook01 Img033.Jpeg
Contributing Institution
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library
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