128 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



wish my dog mauled, and much I doubted his 

 power to conquer such a formidable antagonist ; but 

 so directly was he in my line of fire that I was com- 

 pelled to hold my hand. On Arack's part there was 

 no hesitation evinced in engaging in the combat ; 

 he had thrown down the gauntlet, and the other 

 had taken it up, and, to the honour of the dog species 

 may it be said, he was determined to win or die to 

 support the reputation of his race. 



The hound obtained at the first effort a splendid 

 grip ; it was just above the shoulder, close to the 

 root of the neck, and, from his performances on 

 former occasions, I was aware it would take almost 

 superhuman efforts to force him to relax it. The 

 hysena was the heavier of the two, and this gave 

 him a temporary advantage, but agility was on the 

 side of the hound, thus they rolled over and over, 

 each alternately being uppermost. What I dreaded 

 most was that the dog's opponent would secure a 

 hold of one of his legs, and evidently Arack thought 

 the same, for he studiously kept them out of reach. 

 Although I hurried up to rescue my companion, 

 when I arrived on the scene his antagonist was all > 

 but done for and quite powerless for mischief. So, [ 

 to put an end to the contest, I gave the hyaena a [ 

 barrel at the butt of the ear. After receiving the 

 shot, the blood flowed copiously, and, strange to say, 

 the moment the gallant hound smelt it, he released 

 his hold, and nothing would induce him to approach 



