70 THE CAMEL 



assist him in his favourite sport. Look at him as he', 

 still sits on his haunches, uncertain whether to move or 

 not, and rather incredulous as to the genuineness of the 

 thing, for his master has more than once taken him in 

 on previous occasions and raised a false alarm. All the 

 same, he is quite ready for any emergency, and he 

 shows it, too, by the eager knowing way in which he 

 looks at his master, with his ears cocked and his eyes 

 brimful of wistful expectancy and eagerness. Then, 

 when the magic words are repeated, and he concludes 

 that his master is in real earnest this time, see him jump 

 to the conclusion and to his feet in a bound, all action, 

 life, and energy, prepared to battle with any number of 

 the feline or rodent species. And when his master does 

 not move, as a reminder or an incentive to him, see 

 him rush away a short distance barking, return, look 

 up into his master's face, wag his tail, bark, as if report- 

 ing the result of his scouting, then off a second time, 

 repeating the same performance over again. Who 

 will not admit that his keenness and readiness for sport 

 are inherent and instinctive in him, and that he wants no 

 encouragement, but is only too ready to accompany his 

 master at any time or anywhere ? And who can doubt 

 but that the force of reason is impelling him all this 

 time to give an outward expression of his thoughts 

 through his actions, and that had he the power of lan- 

 guage he would say ' Come along, do, my good master, 

 I see a cat up that tree ; come quick, and help me to 

 tackle him ' ; or, c A rat has gone down that hole ; come 

 and help me to dig him out ' ? Even in the borderland 

 of dreams his true sporting nature reveals itself, and 

 when his dormant fancy runs riot, many is the clinking 



