158 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



old lady's dignity by rolling her over. Such a 

 shock to her amour propre and deportment was 

 not to be submitted to for a moment, so, rising 

 hastily, with sharp and adroitly handled horns, she 

 commenced with a will to administer punishment 

 for their misdeeds. This they submitted to for 

 a short time ; but when at length they could not 

 escape the persistent attacks made by the goat, 

 for be it remembered that they were chained, Juno, 

 immediately followed by Leo, turned upon her, 

 and, in less time than it takes to narrate it, Nannie's 

 neck was broken and a large piece torn out of her 

 hind-quarters. To rescue the carcass from the 

 young savages was no easy matter ; but, by the 

 aid of their chains, they were at length dragged 

 away, but still growling and struggling, and ever 

 clutching with expanded and protruding claws the 

 earth in the direction of their victim. 



That murderous episode had an effect upon 

 the principals engaged in it that was truly wonder- 

 ful and startling, for their whole conduct afterwards 

 became fiendish ; their days were turned into night, 

 and, except when they slept, during the heat of 

 the noon-tide sun, they were ever pacing to and 

 fro, as far as their limited expanse of cage would 

 permit them. 



Their hunger compelled them to eat an ex- 

 tremely moderate-sized ration of bread and milk ; 

 but the reeking flesh which they had once tasted 



