A LIFE OF FEAR 199 



not to be convulsed with laughter, though neither 

 dog nor squirrel seemed to regard the matter as much 

 of a joke. The squirrel had all his wits about him, 

 and kept them ready for instant use. He did not 

 show the slightest confusion. He was no match for 

 the dog in fair running, and he discovered this fact 

 in less than three seconds; he must win, if at all, 

 by strategy. Not a straight course for the nearest 

 tree, but a zigzag course; yea, a double or treble 

 zigzag course. Every instant the dog was sure the 

 squirrel was his, and every instant he was disap- 

 pointed. It was incredible and bewildering to him. 

 The squirrel dodged this way and that. The dog 

 looked astonished and vexed. 



Then the squirrel issued from between his hind 

 legs and made three jumps toward the woods before 

 he was discovered. Our sides ached with laughter, 

 cruel as it may seem. 



It was evident the squirrel would win. The dog 

 seemed to redouble his efforts. He would overshoot 

 the game, or shoot by it to the right or left. The 

 squirrel was the smaller craft and could out-tack him 

 easily. One more leap and the squirrel was up a 

 tree, and the dog was overwhelmed with confusion 

 and disgust. 



He could not believe his senses. " Not catch a 

 squirrel in such a field as that ? Go to, I will have 

 him yet ! " and he bounds up the tree as high as 

 one's head, and then bites the bark of it in his an- 

 ger and chagrin. 



The boy says his dog has never bragged since 



