DRIVEN OUT OF CAMP. 



159 



anyone be surprised that I bolted and left the objection- 

 able brute in possession ? For doing so none could 

 accuse me of cowardice ; nay, on the other hand, my 

 conduct was commendable, and the very acme of 

 discretion. In the meantime my companion was 

 giving utterance to the most horribly profane 

 language, and 1 could see him across the fire, even 

 nearer a state of nudity than myself, gesticulating 

 violently, as if to give his oaths more effect. 5' "»on I 

 learned the cause of his culpable conduct. His tried 

 friend, and much valued associate, his dog, was 

 resolved to have a go at the skunk ; the very 

 thing of all others that we were desirous to avoid, for 

 so far the wretched little cause of all our solicitude 

 had conducted itself in the most unobjectionable 

 manner, seemingly simply disposed to take a careful 

 m*ental inventory of our effects. But that dog, that 

 cur, that little mis-shapen wretch, would not listen to 

 the voice of control, although coupled with most 

 powerful adjectives, but made a rush at the hereto- 

 fore innocuous animal, when, whew ! let me draw a 

 curtain over the scene, for not only were we stunk 

 out of camp— that could have b(^en rectified — but 

 the guide's stoj^ie boots, woollen socks, and blankets 

 had received such an effectual charge of the terrible 

 essence that it was almost impossible to approach 

 them, and, as may well be imagined, my worthy 

 friend did not have with him a change of raiment. 



To return, however, to the principal dramatis 

 personcB of the comedy the skunk was killed, and the 

 dog became violently sick ; but if it had retched its 

 heart out, I doubt very much if it would have 

 received any sympathy from either of us. I cannot 

 understand how dogs will be so perverse ; let them 

 be flogged most severely, let them be sick unto 

 death, attack a skunk they will on every available 

 opportunity. This contretemps broke up our charm- 

 ing camp, which had long assumed a most home- 



