[Stickeen, etc.], [ca.1887], Image 33

• Main Author: Muir, John
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 2019
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmn-st1/33; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/jmn-st1/article/1032/type/native/viewcontent/MuirReel33_Notebook01_Img033.Jpeg

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 ...