200 A LIFE OF FEAR 



firm crust that held boy and dog alike. The 

 dog was drawn back a few yards and the squir- 

 rel liberated. Then began one of the most ex- 

 citing races I have witnessed for a long time. 

 It was impossible for the lookers-on not to be 

 convulsed with laughter, though neither dog 

 nor squirrel seemed to regard the matter as much 

 of a joke. The squirrel had all his wits about 

 him, and kept them ready for instant use. He 

 did not show the slightest confusion. He was 

 no match for the dog in fair running, and he 

 discovered this fact in less than three seconds; 

 he must win, if at all, by strategy. Not a 

 straight course for the nearest tree, but a zigzag 

 course; yea, a double or treble zigzag course. 

 Every instant the dog was sure the squirrel was 

 his and every instant he was disappointed. It 

 was incredible and bewildering to him. The 

 squirrel dodged this way and that. The dog 

 looked astonished and vexed. 



Then the squirrel issued from between his 

 hind legs and made three jumps toward the 

 woods before he was discovered. Our sides 

 ached with laughter, cruel as it may seem. 



It was evident the squirrel would win. The 

 dog seemed to redouble his efforts. He would 

 overshoot the game, or shoot by it to the right 

 or left. The squirrel was the smaller craft and 

 could out-tack him easily. One more leap and 

 the squirrel was up a tree, and the dog was 

 overwhelmed with confusion and disgust. 



He could not believe his senses. "Not catch 

 a squirrel in such a field as that? Go to, I 



