212 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



all rise monstrous growths of henbane have already died, then at the tips the 



about July, with long fronds bearing last creamy bells veined with earthy 



clammy, pungently scented leaves, then purple and of a thick soft texture 



serried polished nipples where blooms like a crushed moth's. 



XLI 

 THE LITTLE RED DOG 



"... My being was an accident, 

 Which fate, in working its sublime intent, 

 Not wish'd to be, to hinder would not deign." 



HARTLEY COLERIDGE. 



OAUNTERING along a lane-like common type, widely distributed on 

 road between Charterhouse the earth ; I doubt if there are many 

 Hinton and Woolverton, in the West countries where you will not meet him : 

 Country, I spied a small red dog trot- a degenerate or dwarf variety of the 

 ting along some distance behind me. universal cur, smaller than a fox- 

 He was in the middle of the road, but terrier and shorter legged ; the low 

 seeing that he was observed he sheered stature, long body, small ears, and 

 off to the other side, and when nearly blunt nose giving him a somewhat 

 abreast of me paused suspiciously, stoaty or even reptilian appearance 

 sniffed the air to get the exact smell, among the canines. His red colour 

 then made a dash past, and after going is, indeed, the commonest hue of the 

 about twenty or thirty yards full common dog, or cur, wherever found, 

 speed dropped once more into his It is rarely a bright red, like that of 

 travelling trot, to vanish from sight the Irish setter, or any pleasing shade 

 at the next bend in the road. of red, as in the dingo, the fox, and 

 Though alone I laughed, for he was the South American maned wolf ; it 

 a very old acquaintance of mine. I is dull, often inclining to yellow, some- 

 knew him well, although he did not times mixed with grey as in the jackal, 

 know me, and regarding me as a sometimes with a dash of ginger in it. 

 stranger he very naturally associated The unbeautiful yellowish-red is the 

 my appearance with that well-aimed prevailing hue of the pariah dog. At 

 stone or half-brick which had doubtless all events, that is the impression one 

 registered an impression on his small gets from the few of the numberless 

 brain. I knew him because he is a travellers in the East who have con- 



