220 FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING. 



ances by which they communicate with each other, and 

 that their vocabulary, so to speak, is much larger than it 

 has generally been considered to be. Dupont de Ne- 

 mours declared that he understood fourteen words of the 

 cat tongue. I am perfectly convinced that those two 

 wicked little mules of ours, which ran away so disgrace- 

 fully from our camp in Wyoming, had planned the whole 

 thing out beforehand, and thus very likely had made up 

 their minds as to the road. They had been bitter enemies, 

 biting and kicking each other, contesting for coveted places 

 in the line, and quarrelling the whole trip. But the even- 

 ing before they ran away they were observed to be very am- 

 icable. It attracted our notice, and the last that was seen 

 of them in the morning, just before they bolted, they stood 

 apart from the rest with their heads together and their 

 ears erect, waiting the right moment to dart away togeth- 

 er. Tell a mountain mule-driver that the little beasts do 

 not talk among themselves (chiefly in planning cunning 

 mischief), and he will laugh in j 7 our face. 



Cats, we know, consult a great deal together, and two 

 street dogs often become great cronies. "Why should not 

 these dogs and cats be able to tell stray companions some- 

 thing which should help them on their way ? I believe 

 they do just how, I don't pretend to say. 



