his ears and tail were properly up, he moved forward 

 very deliberately. In this fashion he made a circle 

 round Billy's pup, keeping about two feet away from 

 him, walking infinitely slowly and glaring steadily 

 at the enemy out of the corners of his eyes ; and 

 while he was doing this, the other fellow was tearing 

 away at his bone, growling furiously and glaring side- 

 ways at Jock. When the circle was finished they stood 

 once more face to face ; and then after a short pause 

 Jock began to move in closer, but more slowly even 

 than before. 



Billy's pup did not like this : it was beginning to 

 look serious. He could not keep on eating and at 

 the same time watch Jock ; moreover, there was such 

 a very unpleasant wicked look about Jock, and he moved 

 so steadily and silently forward, that any one would 

 feel a bit creepy and nervous ; so he put his paw on 

 the bone and let out a string of snarly barks, with his 

 ears flat on his neck and his tail rather low down. 

 But Jock still came on a little more carefully and 

 slowly perhaps, but just as steadily as ever. When 

 about a foot off the enemy's nose he changed his 

 direction slightly, as if to walk past, and Billy's pup 

 turned his head to watch him, keeping his nose pointed 

 towards Jock's, but when they got side by side he 

 again looked straight in front of him. 



Perhaps he did this to make sure the bone was still 

 there, or perhaps to show his contempt when he 

 thought Jock was going off. Whatever the reason 

 was, it was a mistake ; for, as he turned his head away, 

 Jock flew at him, got a good mouthful of ear, and in 



76 



