him with seeming approval. This once, but only
this once, he felt dislike for her.

One of the men approached with a halter. Pat
had seen these things in the stable, and he instinctively
knew what they were for. But he
would not accept this one. Embittered by his
fall, chafing under the weight upon his head, he
struggled so successfully that he finally dislodged
the man. Then he sprang to his feet again, and,
trembling in every part, glared savagely at his
tormentors.

"Better give him a twist," quietly suggested
the professional.

Pat heard the remark. But he did not understand,
and so remained quiet. Presently he felt
a light hand creeping up along his neck, pausing,
patting him, creeping along farther, pausing and
patting him again. It was not unpleasant, and
under the soothing influence he came to believe
that his tormentors had experienced a change of
attitude. But he was mistaken. Suddenly his
ear was gripped as in a vise. Also, it was twisted
sharply, once, twice, and then held in a relentless
grip. He stood still as death. Up and down his
spine, from his ear to his tail, coursed shrieking
pain, hacking him like the agony of a thousand
twisting knives. Under the terror of it he stopped
breathing -- stopped till he must breathe or swoon.
Then he did take air, in short, faint gasps, but
each gasp at terrible cost. And standing thus,
fearing to move, he accepted the halter. He could
do naught else.

[[59]]

p058 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p059w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p060

v?