132 THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 



born trick dogs — no teaching is required. But 

 Cortes was easily offended, c and when things did not 

 suit him at home would depart, kicking up his hind- 

 legs as he trotted with an inexplicable effect of a 

 warhorse scenting the battle from afar, only with 

 that double kink in his tail with which warhorses 

 are unprovided. Much as he hated gadding, he pre- 

 ferred on such occasions to seek the companion- 

 ship of a certain healthseeker on whom he had be- 

 stowed his carefully selected friendship. In this 

 case his choice resulted in his own untimely death 

 by chloroform ; for, as has been told, this breed of 

 dog is extraordinarily susceptible to tubercular in- 

 fection. 



That Chihuahuas are intelligent goes without 

 saying; of course every canine, or for that matter 

 equine, breed produces an occasional idiot, but not 

 as often as does the human race. Monte, for in- 

 stance, was trained and disciplined by his parents, 

 and according to unanimously expressed opinion 

 they made a very neat job of it. An undisciplined 

 dog is an unmitigated pest to owners, neighbors and 

 guests. Yet the fascinations of Monte were so 

 overpowering that even as it was he ran the risk of 

 being spoiled by the adulation of outsiders, and in 

 his very early years he permitted himself liberties 

 which considerably startled the authors of his being. 

 If by some rare chance it became necessary for me 

 to reprove him, his behavior was apt to excite the 

 unseemly mirth of visitors. He would make no 

 reply except to revolve violently on his own axis 

 and sniff, surveying his mistress with head askew 



