Jock moved steadily along the trodden track, sliding 

 easily through the grass or jumping softly and noise- 

 lessly over impediments, and we followed, looking 

 ahead as far as the winding course of the trail per- 

 mitted. 



To right and left of us stood the screen of tall grass, 

 bush and trees. Once Jock stopped, throwing up his 

 nose, and stood for some seconds while we held our 

 breath ; but having satisfied himself that there was 

 nothing of immediate consequence, he moved on again 

 rather more slowly, as it appeared to us. I looked 

 at Francis's face ; it was pale and set like marble, and 

 his watchful grey eyes were large and wide like an 

 antelope's, as though opened out to take in everything ; 

 and those moments of intense interest and expectation 

 were the best part of a memorable day. 



There was something near : we felt it ! Jock was 

 going more carefully than ever, with his head up most 

 of the time ; and the feeling of expectation grew 

 stronger and stronger until it amounted to absolute 

 certainty. Then Jock stopped, stopped in mid- 

 stride, not with his nose up ranging for scent, but with 

 head erect, ears cocked, and tail poised dead still : 

 he was looking at something. 



We had reached the end of the grass where the bush 

 and trees of the mountain slope had choked it out, and 

 before us there was fairly thick bush mottled with 

 black shadows and patches of bright sunlight in which 

 it was most difficult to see anything. There we stood 

 like statues, the dog in front with the two men abreast 

 behind him, and all peering intently. Twice Jock 



280 



