The old hat was leaky and I had to grip the rough- 

 cut ventilations to make it hold any water at all, and 

 I was returning with a second supply when with a 

 great big heart-jump, I saw Jock heel over from his 

 side and with his forelegs flat on the ground raise 

 himself to a resting position, his head wagging groggily 

 and his eyes blinking in a very dazed way. 



He took no notice when I called his name, but at 

 the touch of my hand his ears moved up and the stumpy 

 tail scraped feebly in the dead leaves. He was stone 

 deaf ; but I did not know it then. He lapped a little 

 of the water, sneezed the blood away and licked his 

 chops ; and then, with evident effort, stood up. 



But this is the picture which it is impossible to 

 forget. The dog was still so dazed and shaken that he 

 reeled slightly, steadying himself by spreading his legs 

 well apart, and there followed a few seconds' pause in 

 which he stood thus ; and then he began to walk 

 forward with the uncertain staggery walk of a toddling 

 child. His jaws were set close ; his eyes were beady 

 black, and he looked ' fight ' all over. He took no 

 notice of me ; and I, never dreaming that he was 

 after the koodoo, watched the walk quicken to a 

 laboured trot before I moved or called; but he 

 paid no heed to the call. For the first time in his 

 life there was rank open defiance of orders, and he 

 trotted slowly along with his nose to the ground. 

 Then I understood ; and, thinking he was maddened by 

 the kick and not quite responsible for] himself, and 

 more than that admiring his pluck far too much 

 to be angry, I ran to bring him back ; but at a turn in 



326 



