256 DOG STORIES 



of adjacent places also said the pair were 

 constantly seen hunting hedgerows on their 

 beats. On one occasion I saw them myself 

 hunting a short hedge systematically, the 

 dog on one side, the cat on the other ; and 

 on coming near an open gateway a hare 

 was put: out of her form, and bounding 

 through the open gate, was soon off ; the 

 dog followed, till he came through the gate- 

 way, where he stood looking after the hare ; 

 and the cat joining him, they apparently 

 decided it was too big or too fast to be 

 successfully chased, so resumed the hedge- 

 hunting, each taking its own side as before. 



They frequently returned home covered 

 with mud, and pussy's claws with fur, and 

 would lie together in front of the fire ; the 

 cat often grooming down the dog, licking 

 him and rubbing him dry, and the dog 

 getting up and turning over the ungroomed 

 side to be finished. This curious friendship 

 went on for six months or more, till the dog 

 had to be kept in durance vile to save him 

 from traps and destruction, the cat, nothing 

 daunted, going on with her poaching until 



