THE DOGS 



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 recovered 

 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 compliment 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 whereabout, it will be 

 seen that the dogs were very valuable indeed. They 

 seemed to know exactly how badly hit an animal 

 might happen to be, and to gauge their distance ac- 

 cordingly, until at last, when the quarry was ham- 

 mered 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 their own 

 hook, preserved their lives from otherwise inevitable 

 extinction, and were of great assistance in saving 

 their masters' skins. 



One member of the pack, perhaps two, were, 



157 



