184 



THE AD VENTURES OF 



" Are there such things as wild dogs ?" 



" Yes, although the point has been much disputed. But 

 the dog, the faithful companion of man, has been so long 

 domesticated, that little similarity of appearance exists be- 

 tween them. However, the cayotte, the fox, and the wolf 

 may be called wild dogs." 



We had once more got into the midst of a thicket with- 

 out discovering the least trace of our resting-place. It be- 

 came important that we should soon find our starting-point. 

 I noticed that Gringalet, instead of gambolling round us as 

 « he generally did, remained behind, pricking up his ears, and 

 appearing excessively knowing. 



"What do you think, shall we take Gringalet for our 

 guide ?" said I. 



As soon as the animal heard his name mentioned, he 

 rushed towards me, and I patted him. 



" Come, tell your dog to lead us to the bivouac," I said 

 to Lucien. 



" To the bivouac ! to the bivouac !" cried the boy, pat- 

 ting the animal. 



Gringalet really seemed to understand, for he sniffed up 

 the air, and at once went to the front. I soon discovered 

 that he was taking us back by a very circuitous path. 



" To the bivouac ! to the bivouac !" 



Gradually the noise of the torrent became more distinct, 

 and our guide plunged into the brush-wood. While we 

 were cutting down the branches that stopped up our path, 

 Gringalet waited with his ears pricked up and one foot up- 

 lifted. At last we caught sight of the hut, which was 

 greeted with such pleasure and relief as only known by fa- 

 tigued travellers. 



It was not without emotion that I again beheld this spot, 

 to which I had, as I thought, said good-bye forever. The 

 scarcely extinguished embers, and the shelter which we had 



