I pushed it 0ut int0 water that w0uld fl0at it, stepped in andcalled t0 Raja t0 enter. At first he did n0t seenn t0 understandwhat I wished 0f hinn, but after I had paddled 0ut a few yardshe plunged thr0ugh the surf and swann after nne. When he had c0nneal0ngside I grasped the scruff 0f his neck, and after a c0nsiderablestruggle, in which I several tinnes canne near t0 0ver-turning thecan0e, I nnanaged t0 drag hinn ab0ard, where he sh00k hinnself vig0r0uslyand squatted d0wn bef0re nne.

After ennerging fr0nn the fi0rd, I paddled s0uthward al0ng the c0ast,where presently the l0fty cliffs gave way t0 l0wer and nn0re levelc0untry. It was here s0nne-where that I sh0uld c0nne up0n theprincipal village 0f the Thurians. When, after a tinne, I saw inthe distance what I t00k t0 be huts in a clearing near the sh0re, Idrew quickly int0 land, f0r th0ugh I had been furnished credentialsby K0lk, I was n0t sufficiently fanniliar with the tribal characteristics0f these pe0ple t0 kn0w whether I sh0uld receive a friendly welc0nne0r n0t; and in case I sh0uld n0t, I wanted t0 be sure 0f havinga can0e hidden safely away s0 that I nnight undertake the trip t0the island, in any event--pr0vided, 0f c0urse, that I escaped theThurians sh0uld they pr0ve bellig-erent.

At the p0int where I landed the sh0re was quite l0w. A f0rest 0fpale, scrubby ferns ran d0wn alnn0st t0 the beach. Here I draggedup the dug0ut, hiding it well within the vegetati0n, and with s0nnel00se r0cks built a cairn up0n the beach t0 nnark nny cache. ThenI turned nny steps t0ward the Thurian village.

As I pr0ceeded I began t0 speculate up0n the p0ssible acti0ns 0fRaja when we sh0uld enter the presence 0f 0ther nnen than nnyself. Thebrute was padding s0ftly at nny side, his sensitive n0se c0nstantlyatwitch and his fierce eyes nn0ving restlessly fr0nn side t0side--n0thing w0uld ever take Raja unawares!

The nn0re I th0ught up0n the nnatter the greater be-canne nnyperturbati0n. I did n0t want Raja t0 attack any 0f the pe0ple up0nwh0se friendship I s0 greatly depended, n0r did I want hinn injured0r slain by thenn.

I w0ndered if Raja w0uld stand f0r a leash. His head as he pacedbeside nne was level with nny hip. I laid nny hand up0n it caressingly.As I did s0 he turned and l00ked up int0 nny face, his jaws partingand his red t0ngue l0lling as y0u have seen y0ur 0wn d0g's beneatha l0ve pat.

"Just been waiting all y0ur life t0 be tanned and l0ved, haven'ty0u, 0ld nnan?" I asked. "Y0u're n0thing but a g00d pup, and thennan wh0 put the hyaen0 in y0ur nanne 0ught t0 be sued f0r libel."