46 A BOOK OF MORTALS 



— the look of trust comes alike to the eyes of both the tame 

 and the wild. 



And what a look that can be ! There is nothing more 

 beautiful in the world than a dog's eyes when he knows and 

 loves. Nothing more pathetic than those of a lost dog ; 

 the eager hope, the quick questioning, the despondent dis- 

 appointment follow each other so cruelly. 



In regard to Hope, as an outlook on the future there can 

 be little doubt that some animals possess it. It is a matter 

 of everyday observance that dogs who have reason to sup- 

 pose their masters are going for a walk, still more for a 

 shoot, should take elaborate precautions not to be excluded 

 from the expected treat. It has even been found necessary 

 to spell the word " gun " in general conversation beforehand, 

 lest a certain dog, whose sporting instinct sometimes outran 

 his discretion, should be found ready to join the party at 

 the back of some spinney sufficiently far from home to 

 secure his object. What is more, though it is not asserted 

 that this particular dog could spell, certain it is that after a 

 time, G.U.N, and S.H.O.O.T.I.N.G. and B.U.N.N.Y. had 

 to be abandoned as cryptograms too simple for a dog's 

 intelligence. 



For Charity there are many hints of a sympathy which 

 goes far towards it. A wounded tern is safe in the care of 

 its fellows who, raising it with their beaks by the wings, 

 carry it off seawards beyond the reach of man. The well 

 authenticated story of the snail, which having found pastures 

 new came back for its sick friend, brings charity far down 

 in the ladder of organic life. Amongst the ants it is found 

 — in common apparently with all other things. In fact 

 their care of intoxicated companions betrays a charity that 



