128 THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 



From the abstemious viewpoint of Cortes, or 

 Chappie as he is often called for short, Betsinda is 

 disgustingly greedy, and if separate dishes are not 

 provided for the couple he will stalk away dinner- 

 less. He should pause to consider that not the most 

 delectable morsel will tempt even the more socially 

 gifted Betsey to a stranger's hand unless that 

 stranger is attractive to her personally. She may 

 sidle and coquette, but the candy or cake are not 

 for her. 



But it is Cortes who looks after a certain side of 

 the family deportment. The morning train may not 

 pass ungreeted. If the family are backward he 

 rounds them up, including for this ceremony the 

 gigantic Hilda, trotting between them and the gate, 

 howling tentatively, until all are in place and the 

 train is in sight. Never for him does the far off 

 whistle sound in vain ! Then, his band now in full 

 swing, a chorus of canine melody startles the un- 

 accustomed ear. At the place where he was born 

 I have many times beheld him execute a more re- 

 markable feat — that of assembling some score of 

 small dogs and inducing them to take part in the 

 family concert, not once but often, as trains pass 

 continually. 



And while alluding to so many little dogs of one 

 breed, an observer cannot fail to be struck with a 

 peculiarity common to all Chihuahuas even half 

 worthy of the name — that of their extreme wari- 

 ness. For instance, the little follows assemble at the 

 summons of their owner to be inspected by a pur- 

 chaser. They spread themselves in a semicircle, 



