'Tb:e boat. 



which shfc drank gre«dily, and, after her thirst was allayed, 

 she partook of the bread. At the dead of the night he 

 ■vientured from the cave, and, after listening attentively, he 

 pulled a quantity of grass and the tender branches of trees, 

 and bro^ight them to her to eat. The only thing this fdgi- 

 tive had to arrest his attention and beguile the tedionsness 

 of his imprisonment was tending and curing his shaggy com- 

 panion. 



About the same time that the goat quite recovered, the ser- 

 vant who every night brought the prisoner food for the next 

 day, fell sick, and another was appointed in his place. The 

 goat, on this occasion, happening to be lying near the mouth of 

 the caveiai, opposed his entrance with all her might, butting 

 him furiously. The fugitive, hearing a disturbance, went for- 

 ward, and receiving the watchword from his new attendant, 

 interposed, and the faithfiil goat permitted him to pass. So 

 resolute was the animal on this occasion that the gentleman 

 was convinced that she would have died in his behalf. 



However much a favourite a goat may become, there are 

 .certain portions of the year — from September to November — 

 when he is ■anfit, on account of the rank odour he emits, to 

 approach the dwelling-house. At this time, too, you may 

 depend on his exhibiting all the bad qualities he may happen 

 to possess. It is generally believed, however, that the effluvium 

 BO objectionable to our noses is relished by horses, and that 

 the latter animal is benefited by inhaling it. Mr. BeU 

 observes, "Many persons keep goats in their stables from an 

 idea that they contribute to the health of the horses ; a fancy, 

 perhaps, not far-fetched or absurd as at first s^ht might 

 appear, for I believe that all animals are kept in better 

 temper and in greater cheerfulness by the presence of a com- 

 panion than in solitude, and the active aiid good-humoured 

 goat may in iMs way really perform the benefit which has 

 been attributed to it on mistaken grounds. Indeed, instances 

 of close attachment between the horse and goat are not 

 unfrequent." 



The goat cannot grumble if, after having enumerated aU 

 his good qualities, I mention his worst. He is naturally mis- 

 chievous and pugnacious. On the smallest provocation he 

 will " show fight," and is capable of giving some awkward 

 blows with his horns. He is extremely tyrannical, and if he 

 finds people are afraid of him his behaviour will become very 

 outrageous. There is, however, one easy method of subduing 



