Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-09-18
NOSE.


deorge Warmers house on Fiat creek.
IN Northern Montana. After greeting
my comradc, who sat in meditation on
"a pine log, unsaddled my horse and
turned him loose in the valley. and
thcn sat down by Warmers side TO on
Joy the glories Of u Rocky Mountain
sunset. The soft, gray light Of tho
plains blended in tho distance with
the purple tints hanging over the
mountain glens lying in the shade Of
lofty, snow-clad. peaks. The silence
OF the plains was absolute. Between
us and the prccipitous walls of the
foothills antelope grazed. A few cat
Tie walked in file toward the water
holes for their evening draught. NJ
horse joined small herd of horses
that were feeding in the valley below
us. They gathered together compact
ly, to talk, probably. Soon they dic-
fered and fought, and my horse was
promptly kicked out of the herd. |
noticed these incidents lazily. uncon-
sciously almost, us I so. with chin on
knee-suppor.cd arms, Watching the
light fade from the ser.ated crest OF
the mountains. The silence was bro
kea by heavy pat, pat, pat on the
porch behind us. l i,ltncd and saw a
large, handsome half blood stag hound
walking on the porch. In his mouth
he carried billet OF frcwood. See
ing me he stopped, and with his head
high in the air looked intcntly at me
for I'm instant, aud then resumed his
walk. Slowly he stepped off the porch
and walked around tho end of tie lor
nearest to Warner, and stood motion
less before him. My comrades voice
thrilled with affection, OF it may have
been the unspokcn recollection., of the
past conjured up the silent and mys-
terious power Of the hi, hland that uf-
fectcd his tones u, he said lovingly:
Nose, old boy" After looking aflcc-
tionately ut Warner and disapprov-
ingly ut me, the dog dropped the bill
let Of wood, and then, holding it firm
~ with h;a feverf.l r..,,,a, ha .~.le ..
prctense of knawing il, as though it
were marrow bone, looking appeal
ingly at his master the while. Ny
comrade stroked the animals head
and smiled rs he said: "Mose, / sus-
pect that you are fraud. You know
you are not hungry. Are you not
ashamed to bring that stick here and
pretend to eat il? You ale trying to
convey tho impression that starvc
you. What will my friend, stranger
to you, Moso, think of me, you wretch
ed, wrc,ched dog?' While Warner
was speaking Nose looked into his
eyes, his face beaming with love. His
expression was almost human in its
intelligence. Lovingly Warner look
ed ut the dog for an instant aud then
he inquired, "Are you really hungry,
Mosc?' For answer the dog worried
the stick as though he would deyour
it. Warner arose and said, "Come
and eat, you humbng." They disap-
peared around the house in The diroc-
lion of the pegs on which antelope
were hanging. l heard my friend talk
to the dog as he fed him as one talks
to child, questioning him as to wheth-
pr he had had enough, admonislling
him not to bolt his food, lecturiny him
on the vulgarity Of greedincss Pres
pnt)y Nose came around the corner of
The house, and walking to me, thrust
his nose into my hand and smelled of
it inquiringly. Then, after looking
me full in the face for IN instant, be
laid bis long head on my lnco and
sedately waggod his tail rs l smooth
ed his forehead and talked to him as
dogs love to be talked to.
l have owned and loved one brown
oyed setter bitch that had frequently
exhibited quite high order Of reas-
oning power. But | have owned and |
heartily disliked and promptly killed
two score Of beetle headed dogs.
wrotched, semi-idiotic creatures that
Dayed the moon, set rabbits in the
field, and sucked eggs assiduously
when of duty. But Nose surpassed
III other dogs have seen in intclli-
yencc. lie was modest courageous,
honest and loving. Ho was far more
agreeable, companion than many mea
[ have camped with.
The morning after my Introduction
% the dog we started on our journey
nto the land cf the Blackfoet, Warner
and Nose. The dog trottcd after
,llr horses. Occasionally he relieved
he monotony OF the trail and cxpend-
ID the surplus of his animal spirits
~ short combats with intercepted
badgers that lie artfully worried into
,,+,,un ,,.,,a and thnu allowed tn os-