The hair around was matted with blood.

The dog had stopped whimpering. Now suddenly it bared its teeth and snarled, but weakly.

“All right, Nobby, Leeds said. He had his palm against the side, forward, over the heart.

“He's about gone, he said.

I discovered that I was shivering, decided to stop, and did.

“Pull the knife out of him? I suggested. “Maybe-

“No. That would finish him. I think he's finished anyhow.

He was. The dog died as Leeds squatted there, and I stood, not permitting myself to shiver in the cold night breeze. I could see the slender muscular legs stretch tight and then go loose, and after another minute Leeds took his hand away and stood up.

“Will you please hold the door open? he asked. “It's off plumb and swings shut.

I obliged, holding it wide and standing aside to let him through. With the dog's body in his arms, he crossed to a wooden bench at one side of the little square hall and put the burden down. Then he turned to me. “I'm going to put something on and go out and look around. Come or stay, suit yourself.

“I'll come. Is it one of your dogs? Or-

He had started for the stairs, but halted. “No. Sarah's-my cousin's. He was there to-night, you saw him. His face twitched. “By God, look at him! Getting here with that knife in him! I gave him to her two years ago; he's been her dog for two years, but when it came to this it was me he came to. By God!

He went for the stairs and up, and I followed. Over the years there have been several occasions when I needed to get some clothes on without delay, and I thought I was fast, but I was still in my room with a shoe to lace when Leeds' steps were in the hall again and he called in to me, “Wait downstairs. I'll be back in a minute.