184 THE ADVENTURES OF 



" Are there such things as wild dogs ?" 



" Yes, although the point has been much disputed. But 

 the dog, the faithful companion of man, has been so long 

 domesticated, that little similarity of appearance exists be- 

 tween them. However, the cayotte, the fox, and the wolf 

 may be called wild dogs." 



We had once more got into the midst of a thicket with- 

 out discovering the least trace of our resting-place. It be- 

 came important that we should soon find our starting-point. 

 I noticed that Gringalet, instead of gambolling round us as 

 he generally did, remained behind, pricking up his ears, and 

 appearing excessively knowing. 



" What do you think, shall we take Gringalet for our 

 guide ?" said I. 



As soon as the animal heard his name mentioned, he 

 rushed towards me, and I patted him. 



" Come, tell your dog to lead us to the bivouac," I said 

 to Lucien. 



" To the bivouac ! to the bivouac !" cried the boy, pat- 

 ting the animal. 



Gringalet really seemed to understand, for he sniffed up 

 the air, and at once went to the front. I soon discovered 

 that he was taking us back by a very circuitous path. 



" To the bivouac ! to the bivouac !" 



Gradually the noise of the torrent became more distinct, 

 and our guide plunged into the brush-wood. While we 

 were cutting down the branches that stopped up our path, 

 Gringalet waited with his ears pricked up and one foot up- 

 lifted. At last we caught sight of the hut, which was 

 greeted with such pleasure and relief as only known by fa- 

 tigued travellers. 



It was not without emotion that I again beheld this spot, 

 to which I had, as I thought, said good-bye forever. The 

 scarcely extinguished embers, and the shelter which we had 



