Things started racing through my mind. I remembered hiking in the Yellowstone backcountry when I was in college. We were told never to look a dangerous animal directly in the eye. They will sense your fear and attack. So I watched his paws and slowly moved a step at a time on past the possible predator. The dog never moved. He never barked or even growled. I guess hed never seen anything so strange in his back yard, but he obviously knew I wasnt a threat. A few more steps and I would be out of danger. I would be on the side road and heading for home. The massive oak trees made plenty of shadows and would hide my departure as I turned to the right and headed up the pavement. Finally I decided that nothing would stop me from getting home. I would stick to the side of the road unless a ca