156 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



He had several pitched battles with leopards, from 

 which he has returned frightfully torn, but with his yel- 

 low hair bristled up, his head and stern erect ; and his 

 deep growl, with which he gave a dubious reception to 

 both man and beast, was on those occasions doubly 

 threatening. 



I never knew a dog that combined superlative valor 

 with discretion in the degree exhibited by " Smut." I 

 have seen many dogs who would rush heedlessly upon 

 a boar's tusks to certain destruction ; but Smut would 

 never seize until the proper time arrived, and when the 

 opportunity offered he never lost it. This rendered 

 him of great value in these wild sports, where the dog 

 and his master are mutually dependent upon each other. 

 There was nothing to fear if Smut was there : whether 

 boar or buck you might advance fearlessly to him with 

 the knife, with the confidence that the dog would pin 

 the animal the instant that it turned to attack you ; and 

 when he once obtained his hold he was seldom shaken 

 oft' until in his old age, when he lost his teeth. Even 

 then he was always one of the first to seize. Although 

 comparatively useless, the spirit was ever willing ; and 

 this courage, poor fellow, at length caused his death. 



The next dog who claims a tribute to his memory is 

 " Killbuck." He was an Australian grayhound of the 

 most extraordinary courage. He stood at the shoulder 

 28 inches high ; girth of brisket, 31 inches. 



Instead of the surly and ferocious disposition of 

 " Smut," he was the most gentle and affectionate crea- 

 ture. It was a splendid sight to witness the bounding 

 spring of Killbuck as he pinned an elk at bay that no 

 other dog could touch. He had a peculiar knack of 

 seizing that I never saw equaled : no matter where or 



