THE GHAT WOLF. 141 



around the camp at night to the number of two or three 

 hundred apparently, and their glittering eyes peered at us 

 out of the darkness, that we did not molest them unless 

 they threatened our edibles ; but after that incident we 

 kept them at a safe distance, and showed them no quarter 

 wherever we met them. Though willing enough to scam- 

 per away before a small pack of hounds, a party of them 

 treat a single dog, even of large size, with contemptuous 

 indifference. I remember hearing a hunter telling me that 

 he owned an immense dog, whose greatest pleasure was to 

 fight with every one of his own species he met; and this 

 propensity of his got him into many scrapes with their 

 owners, for he was always the conqueror in a few mo- 

 ments. As he had never been defeated, he had such an 

 overweening confidence in himself that he was ready to 

 meet all foes; but the wolves taught him that he could not 

 triumph over them as he had done over his civilized con- 

 geners. Felix, the canine hero, saw. three wolves one day 

 on a hillock; and thinking they afforded him an excellent 

 opportunity for indulging in a victorious contest, advanced 

 toward them with hairs bristled up like the quills of a por- 

 cupine ; and they, on seeing his combative attitude, trotted 

 away. This retrograde movement so encouraged him that 

 he dashed after them at full speed, and whining with ex- 

 citement; but when he was next seen he was retreating as 

 rapidly as his legs could carry him, his tail was tucked be- 

 tween his legs, and he was ki-yi-ing fearfully, while the 

 three wolves were ranged behind him, and giving him a 

 good solid nip in the flanks every few moments, just to 

 hear how nicely he could sing and see how fast he could 

 run* His owner, seeing his plight, ran out to meet him, 

 and drove his pursuers away; and this kindness Felix ap- 

 preciated very highly, for he extended his tail and wagged 

 it in the liveliest manner. That whipping made him a 

 member of the canine peace society for the remainder of 

 his life, for he was never afterward known to fight, or 

 threaten to fight, any of his own species ; and this saved 

 his owner much unnecessary trouble. 



