THE VARIOUS USES OF DOGS 205 



You see plainly enough this is for my master. ' And 

 it gravely continues on its way, fully prepared to 

 make things lively for the miscreant that should pre- 

 sume to poke its nose into the basket. Thanks to 

 its haughty bearing, the provisions reach home with- 

 out further adventure.'' 



"The dog must be very well drilled in its duty," 

 commented Louis, "not only to resist temptation 

 like that, but also to refuse to listen to the evil coun- 

 sels of its comrades. ' ' 



* l And it never occurs to it to stop and have a feast 

 with its friends when it is carrying a pound of ten- 

 der cutlets I ' ' queried Jules. 



"Never, for these delicate commissions are con- 

 fided only to dogs whose temperance has been 

 proved. ' ' 



"The fable," Jules remarked, "says somewhere: 



"Strange thing 1 , indeed: to dogs is temperance taught, 

 Which man, the teacher, ever fails to learn. ' ' 



"Ah, yes, my friend; this beautiful virtue of tem- 

 perance is hard enough for men to acquire. I know 

 a little boy, now, that was sent one day to a friend's 

 house with a basket of figs or pears, and he could n't 

 help tasting the fruit on the way, under the pretense 

 of seeing whether it was perfectly ripe." 



Here Emile lowered his head with a, confused air 

 and scratched his nose, apparently recalling some 

 past misdeed of this sort on his part. But his uncle 

 appeared not to notice him and continued thus : 



"Now let us talk about the truffle-hunting dog. 



