PONTO'S COURAGE. 233 



himself, or making the slightest noise. "When I 

 halted he lay down, and after I had fired, if the 

 quarry was only wounded, he would follow up 

 the shots with the most untiring perseverance, 

 singling out the wounded animal from the rest 

 of the herd, and never leaving the trail, what- 

 ever obstacles he might encounter en route, until 

 he brought him to bay, when, showing the 

 greatest address in avoiding the horns, he would 

 pin him by the throat and strangle him ; or 

 when the deer was too powerful for him alone 

 which was rarely the case, except when only 

 slightly wounded he would show great cunning 

 and generalship in attracting its attention, so as 

 to prevent its escape, giving tongue until I came 

 up. When he had killed the game, or if he 

 found it dead, he would trot back, look up in my 

 face with a peculiar expression, whine with de- 

 light, and then lead me up to the spot where he 

 had left it. His great delight was large game 

 hunting ; and, although he always preferred 

 accompanying me on such occasions, yet he would 



