THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 127 



avenged himself for the falls to which he has been 

 subjected. Wobbling to his feet he seizes Marina 

 by the throat and by the fury of his onslaught 

 throws her and stands snarling horribly over her 

 prostrate form. Then I gather both exhausted war- 

 riors into my lap and Betsinda, after giving each a 

 brisk going-over with a pink tongue, allows them 

 to slumber undisturbed. Monte receives the larger 

 share of all her attentions, perhaps because he is 

 so little, and the stronger pup is often thrust away. 

 Now she too subsides, and Cortes, not to be out- 

 done but unwilling to stoop, pushes himself in be- 

 hind me and abandons himself to the great consoler. 

 As before mentioned he does not like laps and only 

 resorts to them when he desires to be nearer than 

 any other dog to the object of his devotion. Should 

 he lie down at a distance he keeps a watchful eye, 

 nevertheless, on the beloved's every movement, 

 ready to laugh in the dog manner or wag his tail 

 at the slightest encouragement. A sneeze brings 

 him with a bound to investigate or sympathize — in 

 short, his attentions are embarrassing. Such 

 anxious supervision of the scant few who are to him 

 the elect occasionally provokes treachery. A cal- 

 ler approved by Cortes produces a handkerchief 

 and makes believe to weep into it. In a second the 

 little fellow is on the knees of the mock mourner, 

 pulling with soft, claw-sheathed paws the handker- 

 chief from the face, and on perceiving the smile 

 awaiting him drops his head with a satisfied sigh 

 on his betrayer's shoulder. Thus is the trusting 

 heart deceived. 



