The Mephitu Skunk, 



123 



finally breaking into a frantic run. In vain I 

 followed him, shouting at the top of my lungs; he 

 stayed not to listen, and very speedily vanished 

 from sight a white speck on the vast level plain. 

 At noon on the following day he made his appear- 

 ance, gaunt and befouled with mud, staggering 

 forward like a galvanized skeleton. Too worn out 



Skunk and dog. 



even to eat, he flung himself down, and for hours 

 lay like a dead thing, sleeping off the effects of those 

 few drops of perfume. 



Dogs, I concluded, like men, have their idiosyn- 

 crasies ; but I had gained my point, and proved once 

 more if any proof were needed the truth of that 

 noble panegyric of Bacon's on our faithful servant 

 and companion. 



