AGILE DWELLERS OF MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN. 195 



tive had to arrest his attention in his drear abode was 

 administering comfort to the goat ; and he was indeed 

 thankful to have any living creature beside him. 



11. " The goat quickly recovered, and became ten- 

 derly attached to him. It happened that the servant who 

 was intrusted with the secret of his retreat fell sick, when 

 it became necessary to send another with provisions. The 

 goat, on this occasion, happening to be lying near the 

 mouth of the cavern, opposed his entrance with all her 

 might, butting him furiously ; the fugitive, hearing a dis- 

 turbance, went forward, and, receiving the watchword 

 from his new attendant, interposed, and the faithful goat 

 permitted him to pass. So resolute was the animal on 

 this occasion that the gentleman was convinced she would 

 die in his defense." 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



AGILE DWELLERS OF MOUNTAIN AND PLAIN. 



" I'll chase the antelope over the plain, 

 The tiger's cub I will bind with a chain, 

 And the wild gazelle with its silvery feet 

 I will give thee for a playmate sweet." 



1. THE antelope is one of those creatures that remind 

 us of the essential unity of different animal tribes. It 

 bears strong resemblances to the ox, the goat, and the 

 deer. Like the ox and the goat, it has hollow, and, in 

 most cases, permanent horns. Its ability to spring and 

 climb is similar to though far surpassing that of the goat ; 

 while in size, general outline of form, and habits of life, 

 it resembles the deer. Its horns are more like those of 

 the goat, curving backward, and in some varieties again 



