Chances are he was half minded t' run, anyway, fer all the wild
critters is mighty shy of a man, an' as a rule will go the long way
around to keep out o' his way. But this brute was hungry, as I could tell
by his lean flanks, an' he didn't scare as easy as usual. I yelled at
him, but he didn't move, jest sat there an' looked at me with them
unwinkin' eyes, tryin' his best to figger out the way things stood. Every
onct in a while his eyes would leave mine, an' he'd glance casual-like
around him, but they always came back.
"I knew it wouldn't be long before he got next t' the fact that I was
down an' out, an' I was right. I've hearn people say thet animals don't
reason, but they're a long ways from hittin' the bull's-eye. It warn't
long afore thet painter had everythin' settled in his own mind, an' had
decided thet I was helpless fer some reason an' would be easy pickin's
fer him. He got up on all fours, and began to growl a little an' switch
his tail. I knew then that it wouldn't be long before he came fer me, an'
I took a fresh grip on the axe. I knew I didn't have a chance, but I
figgered on puttin' my mark on the critter before he did fer me, anyway.
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