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Brand, Max, 1892-1944

"The Seventh Man"

It would not do to let him lie there in the cool mold by
the water, for he knew that the greatest danger in overheating a horse is
that it may cool too quickly afterward.
He stooped directly in front of Satan and swept up an arm in command; it
brought only a flicker of the eyelid, the eyelid which drooped over a
glazing eye.
"Up!" he commanded.
One ear again pricked; the head lifted barely clear of the ground; the
forelegs stiffened with effort, trembled, and were still again.
"Bart!" shouted the master, "wake him up!"
The voice could not have carried to the wolf through the uproar of the
waters, but the gesture, the expression brought home the order, and Black
Bart came to his feet, staggering. Right against the nose of Satan he bared
his great teeth and his snarl rattled. No living creature could hear that
sound without starting, and the head of Satan raised high. Still before him
Bart growled and under his elbow and his chest the hands of the master
strained up. He swayed with a snort very like a human groan, struggled, the
forelegs secured their purchase, and he came slowly to his feet.


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