NCERT Textbook - A Dog Named Duke | English Class 9 PDF Download

 Page 1


CBSE
2 2
UNIT UNIT
Fiction
13
F.2    A Dog Named Duke
by William D. Ellis
The only part of this story which is not known for certain is 
whether or not the dog knew what he was doing for Charles - 
"Chuck"- Hooper. Most, who are familiar with the story, believe 
he knew what he was doing every step of the way. I'm one of 
those who believe, because I watched it day by day.
William D. Ellis
About the dog Duke
Duke was a rough-playing Doberman Pinscher, four year old, 23 kilos. His coat was 
red with a fawn vest. Chuck Hooper had doubts at first about buying him because his 
wife, Marcy, was not really a dog lover. She's a tiny blonde; Pomeranian was her idea 
of the right-size dog for a colonial house on a small plot. This Duke needed a hectare. 
Chuck visited Duke at the kennel several times before he made up his mind. After 
about three months, he decided he had to have the big Doberman. Duke's appeal for 
Chuck was his rambunctiousness. It took a long time before Marcy was more than 
polite to the dog.
1. Duke is a Doberman. What are the other known breeds of dogs?
2. Match the words in the boxes with their explanations given below:
rampageous subdural haemorrhage bellow
blonde taut rambunctiousness
grin critical confinement
quivering shimmied
Page 2


CBSE
2 2
UNIT UNIT
Fiction
13
F.2    A Dog Named Duke
by William D. Ellis
The only part of this story which is not known for certain is 
whether or not the dog knew what he was doing for Charles - 
"Chuck"- Hooper. Most, who are familiar with the story, believe 
he knew what he was doing every step of the way. I'm one of 
those who believe, because I watched it day by day.
William D. Ellis
About the dog Duke
Duke was a rough-playing Doberman Pinscher, four year old, 23 kilos. His coat was 
red with a fawn vest. Chuck Hooper had doubts at first about buying him because his 
wife, Marcy, was not really a dog lover. She's a tiny blonde; Pomeranian was her idea 
of the right-size dog for a colonial house on a small plot. This Duke needed a hectare. 
Chuck visited Duke at the kennel several times before he made up his mind. After 
about three months, he decided he had to have the big Doberman. Duke's appeal for 
Chuck was his rambunctiousness. It took a long time before Marcy was more than 
polite to the dog.
1. Duke is a Doberman. What are the other known breeds of dogs?
2. Match the words in the boxes with their explanations given below:
rampageous subdural haemorrhage bellow
blonde taut rambunctiousness
grin critical confinement
quivering shimmied
CBSE
Fiction
a. This is the other word for trembling.________________________________________
b. This is used for smile.__________________________________________________
c. You call a person this if he/she has pale gold coloured hair.______________________
d. This is a quality which relates to high energy and noise. ________________________
e. This is related to dancing or moving in a way that involves shaking your hips and 
shoulders.__________________________________________________________
f. This is to express a tendency to show violent and wild behaviour often causing 
damage.___________________________________________
g. We use it for a condition which is serious, uncertain and dangerous._______________
h. This is a state in which one is forced to stay in a closed space.____________________
i. This is a medical condition involving bleeding in the brain._______________________
j. It is a loud, deep shout to show anger.______________________________________
k. This is a condition when the rope or leash is stretched tightly.____________________
3. Now read the following account
1. In 1953, Hooper was a favoured young man. A big genuine grin civilized his highly 
competitive nature. Standing six-foot-one, he'd played on the university football 
team. He was already a hard-charging zone sales manager for a chemical 
company. Everything was going for him.
2. Then, when he was driving home one autumn twilight, a car pulled out in front of 
him without warning. Hooper was taken to the hospital with a subdural 
haemorrhage in the motor section of the brain, completely paralysing his left side.
3. One of Chuck's district managers drove Marcy to the hospital. Her husband 
couldn't talk; he could only breathe and see, and his vision was double. Marcy 
phoned a neighbour, asking him to put Duke in a kennel.
4. Hooper remained on the critical list for a month. After the fifth week some men from 
his company came to the hospital and told Hooper to take a year off. They would 
create a desk job for him at headquarters.
5. About six weeks after the accident, the hospital put him in a wheelchair. Every day 
there was someone working his paralysed arm and leg followed by baths, 
exercise, a wheeled walker. But Chuck didn't make much headway.
6. In March, they let him out of the hospital. After the excitement of the homecoming 
wore off, Chuck hit a new low. At the hospital there had been other injured people, 
but now, each morning when Marcy quietly went to work, it was a gate slamming 
14
haemorrhage: heavy bleeding
Page 3


CBSE
2 2
UNIT UNIT
Fiction
13
F.2    A Dog Named Duke
by William D. Ellis
The only part of this story which is not known for certain is 
whether or not the dog knew what he was doing for Charles - 
"Chuck"- Hooper. Most, who are familiar with the story, believe 
he knew what he was doing every step of the way. I'm one of 
those who believe, because I watched it day by day.
William D. Ellis
About the dog Duke
Duke was a rough-playing Doberman Pinscher, four year old, 23 kilos. His coat was 
red with a fawn vest. Chuck Hooper had doubts at first about buying him because his 
wife, Marcy, was not really a dog lover. She's a tiny blonde; Pomeranian was her idea 
of the right-size dog for a colonial house on a small plot. This Duke needed a hectare. 
Chuck visited Duke at the kennel several times before he made up his mind. After 
about three months, he decided he had to have the big Doberman. Duke's appeal for 
Chuck was his rambunctiousness. It took a long time before Marcy was more than 
polite to the dog.
1. Duke is a Doberman. What are the other known breeds of dogs?
2. Match the words in the boxes with their explanations given below:
rampageous subdural haemorrhage bellow
blonde taut rambunctiousness
grin critical confinement
quivering shimmied
CBSE
Fiction
a. This is the other word for trembling.________________________________________
b. This is used for smile.__________________________________________________
c. You call a person this if he/she has pale gold coloured hair.______________________
d. This is a quality which relates to high energy and noise. ________________________
e. This is related to dancing or moving in a way that involves shaking your hips and 
shoulders.__________________________________________________________
f. This is to express a tendency to show violent and wild behaviour often causing 
damage.___________________________________________
g. We use it for a condition which is serious, uncertain and dangerous._______________
h. This is a state in which one is forced to stay in a closed space.____________________
i. This is a medical condition involving bleeding in the brain._______________________
j. It is a loud, deep shout to show anger.______________________________________
k. This is a condition when the rope or leash is stretched tightly.____________________
3. Now read the following account
1. In 1953, Hooper was a favoured young man. A big genuine grin civilized his highly 
competitive nature. Standing six-foot-one, he'd played on the university football 
team. He was already a hard-charging zone sales manager for a chemical 
company. Everything was going for him.
2. Then, when he was driving home one autumn twilight, a car pulled out in front of 
him without warning. Hooper was taken to the hospital with a subdural 
haemorrhage in the motor section of the brain, completely paralysing his left side.
3. One of Chuck's district managers drove Marcy to the hospital. Her husband 
couldn't talk; he could only breathe and see, and his vision was double. Marcy 
phoned a neighbour, asking him to put Duke in a kennel.
4. Hooper remained on the critical list for a month. After the fifth week some men from 
his company came to the hospital and told Hooper to take a year off. They would 
create a desk job for him at headquarters.
5. About six weeks after the accident, the hospital put him in a wheelchair. Every day 
there was someone working his paralysed arm and leg followed by baths, 
exercise, a wheeled walker. But Chuck didn't make much headway.
6. In March, they let him out of the hospital. After the excitement of the homecoming 
wore off, Chuck hit a new low. At the hospital there had been other injured people, 
but now, each morning when Marcy quietly went to work, it was a gate slamming 
14
haemorrhage: heavy bleeding
CBSE
Fiction
down. Duke was still in the kennel, and Chuck was alone with his thoughts. 
7. Finally they decided to bring Duke home. Chuck said he wanted to be standing 
when Duke came in, so they stood him up. Duke's nails were long from four 
months' confinement, and when he spied Chuck he stood quivering like 5000 
volts; then he let out a bellow, spun his long-nailed wheels, and launched himself 
across three metres of air. He was a 23-kilo missile of joy. He hit Chuck above the 
belt, causing him to fight to keep his balance.
8. Those who saw it said the dog knew instantly. He never jumped on Chuck again. 
From that moment, he took up a post beside his master's bed around the clock.
9. But even Duke's presence didn't reach Chuck. The once-iron muscles slacked on 
the rangy frame. Secretly, Marcy cried as she watched the big man's grin fade 
away. Severe face lines set in like cement as Chuck stared at the ceiling for hours, 
then out of the window, then at Duke.
10. When two fellows stare at each other day in, day out, and one can't move and the 
other can't talk, boredom sets in. Duke finally couldn't take it. From a motionless 
coil on the floor he'd spring to his feet, quivering with impatience.
11. "Ya-ruff"
12. "Lie down. Duke!"
13. Duke stalked to the bed, poked his pointed nose under Chuck's elbow and lifted. 
He nudged and needled and snorted.
14. "Go run around the house, Duke."
15. But Duke wouldn't. He'd lie down with a reproachful eye on Hooper. An hour later 
he would come over to the bed again and yap and poke. He wouldn't leave but just 
sit there.
16. One evening Chuck's good hand idly hooked the leash onto Duke's collar to hold 
him still. It was like lighting a fuse: Duke shimmied himself U-shaped in 
anticipation. Even Hooper can't explain his next move. He asked Marcy to help 
him to his feet. Duke pranced, Chuck fought for balance. With his good hand, he 
placed the leash in his left and folded the paralysed fingers over it, holding them 
there. Then he leaned forward. With Marcy supporting him by the elbow, he 
moved his right leg out in front. Straightening his right leg caused the left foot to 
drag forward, alongside the right. It could be called a step.
17. Duke felt the sudden slack in the leash and pulled it taut. Chuck swayed forward 
again, broke the fall with his good right leg, then straightened. Thrice he did that, 
then collapsed into the wheelchair, exhausted. 
reproachful: a look to show that you are criticising someone
15
Page 4


CBSE
2 2
UNIT UNIT
Fiction
13
F.2    A Dog Named Duke
by William D. Ellis
The only part of this story which is not known for certain is 
whether or not the dog knew what he was doing for Charles - 
"Chuck"- Hooper. Most, who are familiar with the story, believe 
he knew what he was doing every step of the way. I'm one of 
those who believe, because I watched it day by day.
William D. Ellis
About the dog Duke
Duke was a rough-playing Doberman Pinscher, four year old, 23 kilos. His coat was 
red with a fawn vest. Chuck Hooper had doubts at first about buying him because his 
wife, Marcy, was not really a dog lover. She's a tiny blonde; Pomeranian was her idea 
of the right-size dog for a colonial house on a small plot. This Duke needed a hectare. 
Chuck visited Duke at the kennel several times before he made up his mind. After 
about three months, he decided he had to have the big Doberman. Duke's appeal for 
Chuck was his rambunctiousness. It took a long time before Marcy was more than 
polite to the dog.
1. Duke is a Doberman. What are the other known breeds of dogs?
2. Match the words in the boxes with their explanations given below:
rampageous subdural haemorrhage bellow
blonde taut rambunctiousness
grin critical confinement
quivering shimmied
CBSE
Fiction
a. This is the other word for trembling.________________________________________
b. This is used for smile.__________________________________________________
c. You call a person this if he/she has pale gold coloured hair.______________________
d. This is a quality which relates to high energy and noise. ________________________
e. This is related to dancing or moving in a way that involves shaking your hips and 
shoulders.__________________________________________________________
f. This is to express a tendency to show violent and wild behaviour often causing 
damage.___________________________________________
g. We use it for a condition which is serious, uncertain and dangerous._______________
h. This is a state in which one is forced to stay in a closed space.____________________
i. This is a medical condition involving bleeding in the brain._______________________
j. It is a loud, deep shout to show anger.______________________________________
k. This is a condition when the rope or leash is stretched tightly.____________________
3. Now read the following account
1. In 1953, Hooper was a favoured young man. A big genuine grin civilized his highly 
competitive nature. Standing six-foot-one, he'd played on the university football 
team. He was already a hard-charging zone sales manager for a chemical 
company. Everything was going for him.
2. Then, when he was driving home one autumn twilight, a car pulled out in front of 
him without warning. Hooper was taken to the hospital with a subdural 
haemorrhage in the motor section of the brain, completely paralysing his left side.
3. One of Chuck's district managers drove Marcy to the hospital. Her husband 
couldn't talk; he could only breathe and see, and his vision was double. Marcy 
phoned a neighbour, asking him to put Duke in a kennel.
4. Hooper remained on the critical list for a month. After the fifth week some men from 
his company came to the hospital and told Hooper to take a year off. They would 
create a desk job for him at headquarters.
5. About six weeks after the accident, the hospital put him in a wheelchair. Every day 
there was someone working his paralysed arm and leg followed by baths, 
exercise, a wheeled walker. But Chuck didn't make much headway.
6. In March, they let him out of the hospital. After the excitement of the homecoming 
wore off, Chuck hit a new low. At the hospital there had been other injured people, 
but now, each morning when Marcy quietly went to work, it was a gate slamming 
14
haemorrhage: heavy bleeding
CBSE
Fiction
down. Duke was still in the kennel, and Chuck was alone with his thoughts. 
7. Finally they decided to bring Duke home. Chuck said he wanted to be standing 
when Duke came in, so they stood him up. Duke's nails were long from four 
months' confinement, and when he spied Chuck he stood quivering like 5000 
volts; then he let out a bellow, spun his long-nailed wheels, and launched himself 
across three metres of air. He was a 23-kilo missile of joy. He hit Chuck above the 
belt, causing him to fight to keep his balance.
8. Those who saw it said the dog knew instantly. He never jumped on Chuck again. 
From that moment, he took up a post beside his master's bed around the clock.
9. But even Duke's presence didn't reach Chuck. The once-iron muscles slacked on 
the rangy frame. Secretly, Marcy cried as she watched the big man's grin fade 
away. Severe face lines set in like cement as Chuck stared at the ceiling for hours, 
then out of the window, then at Duke.
10. When two fellows stare at each other day in, day out, and one can't move and the 
other can't talk, boredom sets in. Duke finally couldn't take it. From a motionless 
coil on the floor he'd spring to his feet, quivering with impatience.
11. "Ya-ruff"
12. "Lie down. Duke!"
13. Duke stalked to the bed, poked his pointed nose under Chuck's elbow and lifted. 
He nudged and needled and snorted.
14. "Go run around the house, Duke."
15. But Duke wouldn't. He'd lie down with a reproachful eye on Hooper. An hour later 
he would come over to the bed again and yap and poke. He wouldn't leave but just 
sit there.
16. One evening Chuck's good hand idly hooked the leash onto Duke's collar to hold 
him still. It was like lighting a fuse: Duke shimmied himself U-shaped in 
anticipation. Even Hooper can't explain his next move. He asked Marcy to help 
him to his feet. Duke pranced, Chuck fought for balance. With his good hand, he 
placed the leash in his left and folded the paralysed fingers over it, holding them 
there. Then he leaned forward. With Marcy supporting him by the elbow, he 
moved his right leg out in front. Straightening his right leg caused the left foot to 
drag forward, alongside the right. It could be called a step.
17. Duke felt the sudden slack in the leash and pulled it taut. Chuck swayed forward 
again, broke the fall with his good right leg, then straightened. Thrice he did that, 
then collapsed into the wheelchair, exhausted. 
reproachful: a look to show that you are criticising someone
15
CBSE
Fiction
18. Next day, the big dog started early; he charged around to Hooper's good side, 
jabbed his nose under the elbow and snapped his head up. The big man's good 
arm reached for the leash. With Hooper standing, the dog walked to the end of the 
leash and tugged steadily. Four so-called steps they took that day.
19. Leaning back against the pull, Hooper learned to keep his balance without Marcy 
at his elbow. Wednesday, he and Duke took five steps; Thursday, six steps; Friday, 
failure- two steps followed by exhaustion. But in two weeks they reached the front 
porch.
20. By mid-April neighbours saw a daily struggle in front of Marcy's house. Out on the 
sidewalk they saw the dog pull his leash taut then stand and wait. The man would 
drag himself abreast of the dog, then the dog would surge out to the end of the 
leash and wait again. The pair set daily goals; Monday, the sixth fence post, 
Tuesday, the seventh fence post, Wednesday ......
21. When Marcy saw what Duke could do for her husband, she told the doctor, who 
prescribed a course of physiotherapy with weights, pulleys and whirlpool baths 
and above all walking every day with Duke, on a limited, gradual scale.
22. By now neighbours on their street were watching the pattern of progress. On June 
1, news spread that Hooper and Duke had made it to an intersection quite far 
away.
23. Soon Duke began campaigning for two trips a day, and they lengthened the 
targets, one driveway at a time. Duke no longer waited at each step.
24. On January 4, Hooper made his big move. Without Duke, he walked the 200 
metres from the clinic to the local 
branch office of his company. This 
had been one of the district offices 
under his jurisdiction as zone 
manager. The staff was amazed by 
the visit. But to Gordon Doule, the 
manager, Chuck said, "Gordon, 
this isn't just a visit. Bring me up to 
date on what's happened, will you -
-so I can get to work?" Doule 
gaped. "It'll just be an hour a day 
for a while," Hooper continued. "I'll 
use that empty desk in the 
warehouse. And I'll need a 
dictating machine."
16
Page 5


CBSE
2 2
UNIT UNIT
Fiction
13
F.2    A Dog Named Duke
by William D. Ellis
The only part of this story which is not known for certain is 
whether or not the dog knew what he was doing for Charles - 
"Chuck"- Hooper. Most, who are familiar with the story, believe 
he knew what he was doing every step of the way. I'm one of 
those who believe, because I watched it day by day.
William D. Ellis
About the dog Duke
Duke was a rough-playing Doberman Pinscher, four year old, 23 kilos. His coat was 
red with a fawn vest. Chuck Hooper had doubts at first about buying him because his 
wife, Marcy, was not really a dog lover. She's a tiny blonde; Pomeranian was her idea 
of the right-size dog for a colonial house on a small plot. This Duke needed a hectare. 
Chuck visited Duke at the kennel several times before he made up his mind. After 
about three months, he decided he had to have the big Doberman. Duke's appeal for 
Chuck was his rambunctiousness. It took a long time before Marcy was more than 
polite to the dog.
1. Duke is a Doberman. What are the other known breeds of dogs?
2. Match the words in the boxes with their explanations given below:
rampageous subdural haemorrhage bellow
blonde taut rambunctiousness
grin critical confinement
quivering shimmied
CBSE
Fiction
a. This is the other word for trembling.________________________________________
b. This is used for smile.__________________________________________________
c. You call a person this if he/she has pale gold coloured hair.______________________
d. This is a quality which relates to high energy and noise. ________________________
e. This is related to dancing or moving in a way that involves shaking your hips and 
shoulders.__________________________________________________________
f. This is to express a tendency to show violent and wild behaviour often causing 
damage.___________________________________________
g. We use it for a condition which is serious, uncertain and dangerous._______________
h. This is a state in which one is forced to stay in a closed space.____________________
i. This is a medical condition involving bleeding in the brain._______________________
j. It is a loud, deep shout to show anger.______________________________________
k. This is a condition when the rope or leash is stretched tightly.____________________
3. Now read the following account
1. In 1953, Hooper was a favoured young man. A big genuine grin civilized his highly 
competitive nature. Standing six-foot-one, he'd played on the university football 
team. He was already a hard-charging zone sales manager for a chemical 
company. Everything was going for him.
2. Then, when he was driving home one autumn twilight, a car pulled out in front of 
him without warning. Hooper was taken to the hospital with a subdural 
haemorrhage in the motor section of the brain, completely paralysing his left side.
3. One of Chuck's district managers drove Marcy to the hospital. Her husband 
couldn't talk; he could only breathe and see, and his vision was double. Marcy 
phoned a neighbour, asking him to put Duke in a kennel.
4. Hooper remained on the critical list for a month. After the fifth week some men from 
his company came to the hospital and told Hooper to take a year off. They would 
create a desk job for him at headquarters.
5. About six weeks after the accident, the hospital put him in a wheelchair. Every day 
there was someone working his paralysed arm and leg followed by baths, 
exercise, a wheeled walker. But Chuck didn't make much headway.
6. In March, they let him out of the hospital. After the excitement of the homecoming 
wore off, Chuck hit a new low. At the hospital there had been other injured people, 
but now, each morning when Marcy quietly went to work, it was a gate slamming 
14
haemorrhage: heavy bleeding
CBSE
Fiction
down. Duke was still in the kennel, and Chuck was alone with his thoughts. 
7. Finally they decided to bring Duke home. Chuck said he wanted to be standing 
when Duke came in, so they stood him up. Duke's nails were long from four 
months' confinement, and when he spied Chuck he stood quivering like 5000 
volts; then he let out a bellow, spun his long-nailed wheels, and launched himself 
across three metres of air. He was a 23-kilo missile of joy. He hit Chuck above the 
belt, causing him to fight to keep his balance.
8. Those who saw it said the dog knew instantly. He never jumped on Chuck again. 
From that moment, he took up a post beside his master's bed around the clock.
9. But even Duke's presence didn't reach Chuck. The once-iron muscles slacked on 
the rangy frame. Secretly, Marcy cried as she watched the big man's grin fade 
away. Severe face lines set in like cement as Chuck stared at the ceiling for hours, 
then out of the window, then at Duke.
10. When two fellows stare at each other day in, day out, and one can't move and the 
other can't talk, boredom sets in. Duke finally couldn't take it. From a motionless 
coil on the floor he'd spring to his feet, quivering with impatience.
11. "Ya-ruff"
12. "Lie down. Duke!"
13. Duke stalked to the bed, poked his pointed nose under Chuck's elbow and lifted. 
He nudged and needled and snorted.
14. "Go run around the house, Duke."
15. But Duke wouldn't. He'd lie down with a reproachful eye on Hooper. An hour later 
he would come over to the bed again and yap and poke. He wouldn't leave but just 
sit there.
16. One evening Chuck's good hand idly hooked the leash onto Duke's collar to hold 
him still. It was like lighting a fuse: Duke shimmied himself U-shaped in 
anticipation. Even Hooper can't explain his next move. He asked Marcy to help 
him to his feet. Duke pranced, Chuck fought for balance. With his good hand, he 
placed the leash in his left and folded the paralysed fingers over it, holding them 
there. Then he leaned forward. With Marcy supporting him by the elbow, he 
moved his right leg out in front. Straightening his right leg caused the left foot to 
drag forward, alongside the right. It could be called a step.
17. Duke felt the sudden slack in the leash and pulled it taut. Chuck swayed forward 
again, broke the fall with his good right leg, then straightened. Thrice he did that, 
then collapsed into the wheelchair, exhausted. 
reproachful: a look to show that you are criticising someone
15
CBSE
Fiction
18. Next day, the big dog started early; he charged around to Hooper's good side, 
jabbed his nose under the elbow and snapped his head up. The big man's good 
arm reached for the leash. With Hooper standing, the dog walked to the end of the 
leash and tugged steadily. Four so-called steps they took that day.
19. Leaning back against the pull, Hooper learned to keep his balance without Marcy 
at his elbow. Wednesday, he and Duke took five steps; Thursday, six steps; Friday, 
failure- two steps followed by exhaustion. But in two weeks they reached the front 
porch.
20. By mid-April neighbours saw a daily struggle in front of Marcy's house. Out on the 
sidewalk they saw the dog pull his leash taut then stand and wait. The man would 
drag himself abreast of the dog, then the dog would surge out to the end of the 
leash and wait again. The pair set daily goals; Monday, the sixth fence post, 
Tuesday, the seventh fence post, Wednesday ......
21. When Marcy saw what Duke could do for her husband, she told the doctor, who 
prescribed a course of physiotherapy with weights, pulleys and whirlpool baths 
and above all walking every day with Duke, on a limited, gradual scale.
22. By now neighbours on their street were watching the pattern of progress. On June 
1, news spread that Hooper and Duke had made it to an intersection quite far 
away.
23. Soon Duke began campaigning for two trips a day, and they lengthened the 
targets, one driveway at a time. Duke no longer waited at each step.
24. On January 4, Hooper made his big move. Without Duke, he walked the 200 
metres from the clinic to the local 
branch office of his company. This 
had been one of the district offices 
under his jurisdiction as zone 
manager. The staff was amazed by 
the visit. But to Gordon Doule, the 
manager, Chuck said, "Gordon, 
this isn't just a visit. Bring me up to 
date on what's happened, will you -
-so I can get to work?" Doule 
gaped. "It'll just be an hour a day 
for a while," Hooper continued. "I'll 
use that empty desk in the 
warehouse. And I'll need a 
dictating machine."
16
CBSE
Fiction
25. Back in the company's headquarters, Chuck's move presented problems -- tough 
ones. When a man fights that hard for a comeback, who wants to tell him he can't 
handle his old job? On the other hand, what can you do with a salesman who can't 
move around, and can work only an hour a day? They didn't know that Hooper had 
already set his next objective: March 1, a full day's work.
26. Chuck hit the target, and after March 1, there was no time for the physiotherapy 
programme; he turned completely to Duke, who pulled him along the street faster 
and faster, increasing his stability and endurance. Sometimes, walking after dark, 
Hooper would trip and fall. Duke would stand still as a post while his master 
struggled to get up. It was as though the dog knew that his job was to get Chuck 
back on his feet.
27. Thirteen months from the moment he worked full days. Chuck Hooper was 
promoted to regional manager covering more than four states.
28. Chuck, Marcy and Duke moved house in March 1956. The people in the new 
suburb where the Hoopers bought a house didn't know the story of Chuck and 
Duke. All they knew was that their new neighbour walked like a struggling 
mechanical giant and that he was always pulled by a rampageous dog that acted 
as if he owned the man. 
29. On the evening of October 12, 1957, the Hoopers had guests. Suddenly over the 
babble of voices, Chuck heard the screech of brakes outside. Instinctively, he 
looked for Duke.
30. They carried the big dog into the house. Marcy took one look at Duke's breathing, 
at his brown eyes with the stubbornness gone. "Phone the vet," she said. "Tell him, 
I'm bringing Duke." Several people jumped to lift the dog. "No, please," she said. 
And she picked up the big Duke, carried him gently to the car and drove him to the 
animal hospital.
31. Duke was drugged and he made it until 11o'clock the next morning, but his injuries 
were too severe.
32. People who knew the distance Chuck and Duke had come together, one fence 
post at a time, now watched the big man walk alone day after day. They wondered: 
how long will he keep it up? How far will he go today? Can he go it alone?
33. A few weeks ago, worded as if in special tribute to Duke, an order came through 
from the chemical company's headquarters: ".......... therefore, to advance our 
objectives step by step, Charles Hooper is appointed Assistant National Sales 
Manager."
William D. Ellis
17