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Show 126 i His crinkly face didn't look so old beneath the beard as his blue eyes twinkled. "I think that can be arranged," he said with a shy smile. "I'm thinking of moving to town." That's when Mr. Courdelay pushed through the people who still stood around the boys. With a shake of his head, he confronted Josh. "Sorry, Josh, at a time like this. . . ." "Wh. . . what?" In truth, Mr. Courdelay took no pleasure in it, for he looked mournful. "Last night I lost four more sheep, son. I'm afraid I can't put up with it any longer. I'm afraid this is the end for your dog." "But Chinook was with us last night," Josh protested. "All night?" "Sure all night," Josh said. But after a moment he added in a weak voice, "'Cept for a little while when we slept. . . when he . . . , Mr. Courdelay took a deep breath. "He was gone then?" "Well . . . yeah," Josh admitted. "But he was just gone to get a drink. He came back right after we woke up." "Let's see." Mr. Courdelay began to count on his fingers. "From the Lucky Lady mine to Windfall Creek, then up the mountain-it's only about four miles to my place." Sourly he regarded the malamute. "For a dog like that-with that wolf gait of his-four miles is nothing. Not even half an hour. Plenty of time to make the kills, drink in the creek, and get back to you." He waited for another explanation from Josh. The boy could only look at the dog, at Cap, and back at Mr. Courdelay. He knew his dog hadn't killed any sheep. But what could he say? |