A FASCINATING WILD BEAST 219 



something thrown at him, or to have a stubby toe 

 or hard sandal projected into his side. Imagine his 

 wonderment to find people who actually petted him 

 and played with him. At first he didn't know how 

 to play, but it was amazing to see how fast he 

 learned. He was ready to play with any and all 

 comers at any and all times. You could arouse him 

 from a deep slumber and he would be ready to en- 

 gage in any form of gaiety at a second's notice. 



They talk about "charm." Some people have it 

 to a wonderful degree. You like them the minute 

 you meet them, and often don't really know why. 

 Perhaps because you simply can't help it. Well, 

 that was the chief characteristic of Little Wander- 

 obo Dog. He had more charm than anything I've 

 ever met, and so it is only natural that he should 

 have walked into our affections in the most natural, 

 unaffected sort of way. 



I don't know what he thought of us, but I really 

 believe that he thought he had gone to Heaven. We 

 fed him and played with him, and finally he gained 

 a little assurance, and actually barked. He barked 

 at one of our roosters, and then we knew that he 

 considered himself past the probation stage. He 

 had confidence enough to assert himself in a series 

 of lusty barks without fearing a hostile boot or an 

 angry shout. The first time he barked we all rushed 

 out of our tents in wonder and admiration. It was 

 the most important event of the day, and it caused 

 a great deal of talk of a friendly nature. 



There was one umbrageous cloud on Little Wan- 



