The Mephitic Skunk, 123 
finally breaking into a frantic run. In vain I 
followed him, shouting at the top of my lungs; he 
stayed not to listen, and very speedily vanished 
from sight—a white speck on the vast level plain. 
At noon on the following day he made his appear- 
ance, gaunt and befouled with mud, staggering 
forward lke a galvanized skeleton. Too worn out 


Skunk and dog. 
even to eat, he flung himself down, and for hours 
lay like a dead thing, sleeping off the effects of those 
few drops of perfume. 
Dogs, I concluded, like men, have their idiosyn- 
erasies ; but [ had gained my point, and proved once 
more—if any proof were needed—the truth of that 
noble panegyric of Bacon’s on our faithful servant 
and companion. 
