CHAPTER V 

 A DOG IN EXILE 



AT the English estate up the river, where I made 

 so long a stay, there were several dogs, some 

 of them of the common dog of no breed found 

 throughout Argentina, a smooth-haired animal, 

 varying greatly in color, but of tenest red or black ; 

 also differing much in size, but in a majority of 

 cases about as big as a Scotch colley. There were 

 also a few others, dogs of good breeds, and these 

 were specially interesting to me, because they 

 were not restrained nor directed in any way, nor 

 any use made of them in their special lines. Left 

 to their own devices, and to rough it with the 

 others, the result was rather curious. The only 

 one among them that had proved capable of ac- 

 commodating himself to the new circumstances 

 was a Scotch colley a fine animal of pure blood. 

 The common dog of the country is a jack-of-all- 

 trades; a great lover of the chase, but a bad 

 hunter, a splendid scavenger, a good watch-dog 

 and vermin-killer; an indifferent sheep-dog, but 

 invaluable in gathering up and driving cattle. 

 Beyond these things which he picks up, you can 

 really teach him nothing useful, although with 



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