OLD PONTO 193 



and if in a very bad humour, he would ruffle him con- 

 siderably before delivered up. This I conclude, had 

 formed part of his education before I became the pur- 

 chaser of the aforesaid Ponto, and remonstrance I found 

 to be of little avail. 



Upon our first meeting in stubble fields, finding '' down 

 charge " or other such objurgations so little heeded by 

 my friend Ponto, I took the liberty of calling to my aid 

 a little auxiliary in the shape of a heavy pocket whip, 

 which I thought might save me further explanations ; 

 but no sooner did Ponto set eyes on my little pocket 

 companion, evidently to him an old and not very agree- 

 able 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 un- 

 expected assault took me rather aback, but getting my 

 right hand at leisure, 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 inclination 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 uninterest- 

 ing, 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 ; fore legs, 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, without 

 loins ; drooping quarters, with a stem, or tail, like a 



