218 FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING. 
duced, though hardly one of superior education in this re- 
spect; and in the light of it, it is not difficult to suppose 
that a sharp dog should be able to follow back a train of 
odors that he had experienced shortly before. 
But there is another way by which anxious animals may 
learn their route both going and coming, and that is by 
listening and inquiring. It is remarkable how much of 
what is said by their masters all dogs understand. The 
books and periodicals of natural history and sport abound 
with illustrations of this, and one lately occurred within my 
own experience. A very good-natured and amusing, but 
utterly unthoroughbred, little dog was a member of a fam- 
ily which I was visiting. The dog and I became very good 
friends at once, and remained so until the second day, when 
I casually began to joke his master upon owning such a 
miserable cur. At once the little dog pricked up his ears, 
and, noticing this, I continued my disparagements in a 
quiet, off-hand tone, his master meanwhile defending and 
condoling with him, until at last the dog could stand it no 
longer, but, without any provocation beyond my language, 
which was not addressed to him at all, sprung up and softly 
bit at my heel, as though to give me warning of what 
might happen if the joke went any further; and after that 
he utterly broke off our friendship. 
