THE DOGS. 177 



path of these rangings, the dogs retired rapidly, 

 discreetly, and with every symptom of horrified 

 disgust. If a dog came sailing out of a thicket, 

 ki-yi-ing agitatedly, and took up his position, 

 tail between his legs, behind his master, we knew 

 there was probably a lion about. Thus we 

 hunted lions with dogs. 



But in order to be fair to these most excellent 

 canines, it should be recorded that they recov- 

 ered a certain proportion of their nerve after a 

 rifle had been fired. They then returned warily 

 to the not attack reconnaissance. This trait 

 showed touching faith, and was a real compli- 

 ment to the marksmanship of their masters, 

 Some day it will be misplaced. A little cautious 

 scouting on their part located the wounded 

 beast ; whereupon, at a respectful distance, they 

 lifted their voices. As a large element of danger 

 in case of a wounded lion is the uncertainty as 

 to his whereabouts, it will be seen that the dogs 

 were very valuable indeed. They seemed to 

 know exactly how badly hit any animal might 

 happen to be, and to gauge their distance ac- 

 cordingly, until at last, when the quarry was 

 hammered to harmlessness, they closed in and 

 began to worry the nearly lifeless carcass. By 

 this policy the dogs had a lot of fun hunting on 



