THE HEART OF THE SOUTHERN CATSKILLS 59 



around a good deal, but its logic was too tough for 

 them, and they contented themselves with devour- 

 ing the paper in which it was wrapped. If the cat- 

 tle had not been surprised at just that point, it is 

 probable the tent would have gone down before their 

 eager curiosity and thirst for salt. 



The raid which Larkins's dog made upon our 

 camp was amusing rather than annoying. He was a 

 very friendly and intelligent shepherd dog, probably 

 a collie. Hardly had we sat down to our first lunch 

 in camp before he called on us. But as he was dis- 

 posed to be too friendly, and to claim too large a 

 share of the lunch, we rather gave him the cold 

 shoulder. He did not come again; but a few even- 

 ings afterward, as we sauntered over to the house on 

 some trifling errand, the dog suddenly conceived a 

 bright little project. He seemed to say to himself, 

 on seeing us, " There come both of them now, just 

 as I have been hoping they would ; now, while they 

 are away, I will run quickly over and know what 

 they have got that a dog can eat." My companion 

 saw the dog get up on our arrival, and go quickly in 

 the direction of our camp, and he said something in 

 the cur's manner suggested to him the object of his 

 hurried departure. He called my attention to the 

 fact, and we hastened back. On cautiously nearing 

 camp, the dog was seen amid the pails in the shal- 

 low water of the creek investigating them. He had 

 uncovered the butter, and was about to taste it, 

 when we shouted, and he made quick steps for 

 home, with a very " kill-sheep " look. When we 



