human
The weight is so heavy that the gate shuts and latches itself, you see, Charlie went on, mounting on the inside of the barrier and following cheerfully after them.
gpt
But that doesn't satisfy Aunt Martha. She and Surbus make a special pilgrimage up here every night.
human
She must be pretty nervous.
gpt
Well, she is, though you wouldn't suspect it, would you? When one thinks of the life she has lived, and how she pioneered in here when the country was straight wilderness, and all that. Of course, I didn't know her before Uncle Jason died--do you think she has changed since, Miss Louise?
human
Lots,
gpt
I think myself that the shock of losing him must have made the difference in her. There's Surbus; how's that for a voice? And he's just as blood-thirsty as he sounds, too. I'd hate to have him tackle me in the gorge, on a dark night. He's too savage, though it's only with strangers, and we don't see many of them. He almost ate Peter up, when he first came. And he gave you quite a scare last spring, didn't he, Miss Louise?
human
He came within an ace of getting his head shot off, Billy Louise qualified laconically.
gpt
Marthy came out just in the nick of time. I absolutely refuse to be chewed up by any dog; and I don't care who he belongs to.
human
Same here, William,
gpt
I see Surbus is not going to be popular with the neighbors, he said easily.
human
I do feel very apologetic over him. But Marthy wanted me to get a dog, and so when a fellow offered me this one, I took him; and as Surbus happened to take a fancy to me, I didn't realize what a savage brute he is, till he tackled Peter--and then Miss Louise.
gpt
Well, Miss Louise was perfectly able to defend herself, so you needn't feel apologetic about that, said Billy Louise a trifle sharply. She hated Surbus, and she was quite open in her hatred.
human
If he ever comes at me again, and nobody calls him off, I shall shoot him. It was not a threat, as she spoke it, but a plain statement of a fact.
gpt
You'd better serve notice too, Ward. He's a nasty beast, and he'd just as soon kill a person as not. He was going to jump for my throat. He was crouched, just ready to spring--and I had my gun out--when Marthy saw us and gave a yell fit to wake the dead. Surbus didn't jump, and I didn't shoot. That's how close he came to being a dead dog.
human
We're pretty fair friends now, she said.
gpt
At least, we don't try to kill each other whenever we meet. 'Armed neutrality' fits our case fine.
human
I think I'll volunteer under your flag, said Ward.
gpt
I'll leave Cerberus alone as long as he leaves me and my friends alone. But I'd advise him not to start anything.
human
That's all Surbus or anyone else can ask. Come on, old fellow! Pardon me, he added to his companions and rode past them to meet the great, heavy-jowled dog.
gpt
Be still, Surbus. We're all friends, here.