OR, THE LAKE LANDS OF CANADA. 277 



ludicrousness of the scene. The race may be fairly said 

 to have been nip and tuck, but the guide is slowly gain- 

 ing on the cocker. They had run about ten rods when 

 '* Jim's" brogans were in close proximity to the old dog's 

 tail. It seemed highly probable at this moment that the 

 guide's spiked shoes would be used as a petard for the 

 destruction of the fugitive thief, but no, he has deter- 

 mined to capture him alive ! Behold them at this mo- 

 ment! "Jim" has dropped with the intention of seizing 

 the old rascal with his hands. The old doi: — as if antici- 

 pating this movement — has suddenly jumped to one side, 

 and instantly turned to retrace his steps. "Jim" struck 

 the ground with a heavy thud, but was neither killed nor 

 severely injured by this manoeuvre. The dog, however, in 

 the mean time, has been rapidly gaining on the guide and 

 was well started on the homeward stretch. He occasionally 

 turned his head in order to catch a glimpse of his pursuer, 

 but he did not halt nor even slacken his pace. " Jim" was 

 soon on his feet again, but not until the dog had secured a 

 good start. The guide was maddened by failure, and re- 

 sumed the race with a fierce determination to win. Every 

 second shortened the distance between the contestants when 

 "Jim" had fairly succeeded in getting under way. The old 

 dog seemed to fully comprehend the gravity of the situa- 

 tion, and occasionally turned his head for the purpose 

 of discovering and estimating his danger. He had passed 

 safely one-half of the home-stretch, but was at this mo- 

 ment compelled to drop the bird from his mouth. "Jim" 

 was at this moment close upon the dog's heels, but he 

 heeded not the dead bird, and was evidently determined 



