THE WING-FOOTED 



the fact that not only is there a commer- 

 cial side to sport, but a very desperately 

 sporting side to commerce. 



Twelve miles of yet more villainous 

 road remain, which a planche, if it sur- 

 vive, will traverse in four hours, and 

 which may be done in less time on foot 

 with greater comfort and safety. Nei- 

 ther the steep pitches of the Cote des 

 Mouches, nor grievous alternations of 

 rut and boulder, nor trembling bridges 

 have terrors for the Coq or his master, 

 but the latter is seriously perturbed by 

 the prospect of meeting a certain dog of 

 very evil reputation at the journey's 

 end. We learn much of this animal from 

 Pommereau, how useless are attempts 

 to placate, how kindness is interpreted 

 as masked guile, how perilous in his 

 presence it is either to advance, stand 

 still, or retire, and how safety from his 

 horrid fangs can only be won by remain- 

 ing in the buckboard until he is tied up. 

 Borrowing a useful word where he finds 



88 



