A DOG IN EXILE 63 



too long neglected, and would soon settle down 

 to do his share of the work in a sober, business- 

 like manner. 



Then a day came when Major covered himself 

 with glory. I came one morning on a small flock 

 of flamingoes in a lagoon; they were standing 

 in the water, about seventy-five or eighty yards 

 from the shore, quietly dozing. Fortunately the 

 lagoon was bordered by a dense bed of tall rushes, 

 about fifteen yards in breadth, so that I was able 

 to approach the birds unseen by them. I crept up 

 to the rushes in a fever of delighted excitement; 

 not that flamingoes are not common in that dis- 

 trict, but because I had noticed that one of the 

 birds before me was the largest and loveliest fla- 

 mingo I had ever set eyes on, and I had long been 

 anxious to secure one very perfect specimen. I 

 think my hand trembled a great deal; neverthe- 

 less, the bird dropped when I fired ; and then how 

 quickly the joy I experienced was changed to 

 despair when I looked on the wide expanse of 

 mud, reeds and water that separated him from 

 me ! How was I ever to get him? for it is as much 

 as a man's life is worth to venture into one of 

 these long river-like lagoons in the valley, as un- 

 der the quiet water there is a bed of mire, soft as 

 clotted cream, and deep enough for a giant's 

 grave. I thought of Major, but not for a moment 

 did I believe that he, poor dog! was equal to the 

 task. When I fired he dashed hurriedly forward, 

 and came against the wall of close rushes, where 



