8 AN AMERICAN HUNTER 



power over the root of the tail, while the tip hung down 

 as before; it looked like a curved pump-handle when he 

 tried to carry it erect. 



Lil and Nel were two very stanch and fast bitches, 

 the only two dogs that could keep up to Jim in a quick 

 burst. They had shrill voices. Their only failing was a 

 tendency to let the other members of the pack cow them so 

 that they did not get their full share of the food. It 

 was not a pack in which a slow or timid dog had much 

 chance for existence. They would all unite in the chase 

 and the fierce struggle which usually closed it; but the 

 instant the quarry was killed each dog resumed his nor- 

 mal attitude of greedy anger or greedy fear toward the 

 others. 



\Another bitch rejoiced in the not very appropriate 

 name of Pete. She was a most ardent huntress. In the 

 middle of our trip she gave birth to a litter of puppies, 

 but before they were two weeks old she would slip away 

 after us and join with the utmost ardor in the hunting 

 and fighting. Her brother Jimmie, although of the same 

 age (both were young), was not nearly as far advanced. 

 He would run well on a fresh trail, but a cold trail or a 

 long check always discouraged him and made him come 

 back to Goff. He was rapidly learning; a single beating 

 taught him to let deer alone. The remaining hound, 

 Bruno, had just been added to the pack. He showed ten- 

 dencies both to muteness and babbling, and at times, if he 

 thought himself unobserved, could not resist making a 

 sprint after a deer; but he occasionally rendered good 

 service. If Jim or Boxer gave tongue every member of 



