270 AN UNEXPECTED ASSAULT. 



a heavy pocket whip, which I thought might save 

 me further explanations ; but no sooner did Ponto 

 set eyes on my Httle pocket companion, evidently 

 to him an old and not very agreeable acquaintance, 

 than without more ado he came straight at me, 

 and seizing my coat collar, hung resolutely on as a 

 bull-dog would do to the bull's nose. This unex- 

 pected assault took me rather aback, but getting 

 my right hand at leism^e, I dealt my friend Ponto 

 two or three such digs about the nose and head 

 that he was fain to let go ; but showing an incli- 

 nation to renew the combat, I just meditated giving 

 him a taste of the butt end of my gun, which dire 

 intention clearly foreseeing from the uplifted stock, 

 he stood off, with bristles erect, awaiting the blow 

 — it descended not— second thoughts are often the 

 best. 



A short description of Ponto may not prove un- 

 interesting, as exhibiting a portrait of the old 

 Spanish pointer, now very rarely seen. He had 

 very wide, thick lips, the under jaw projecting like 

 a bull-dog's; neck short and thick, with a very 

 loose cravat ; forelegs, from the elbow downwards, 

 as crooked nearly as a ram's horn ; feet of the 

 Dutch make, adapted for aquatics rather than 

 gymnastics, back-bone of the Rosinante order, Avith- 

 out loins ; drooping quarters, with a stern, or tail, 



