"
"Then is there more cunning in your schools than I had thought, for it
is a certain method of showing them their vanity," returned the
trapper, suddenly abandoning a discussion, from which the naturalist
was just beginning to anticipate great delight, by turning to his dog,
whose restlessness he attempted to appease by playing with his ears.
"This is foolish, Hector; more like an untrained pup than a sensible
hound; one who has got his education by hard experience, and not by
nosing over the trails of other dogs, as a boy in the settlements
follows on the track of his masters, be it right or be it wrong. Well,
friend; you who can do so much, are you equal to looking into the
thicket? or must I go in myself?"
The Doctor again assumed his air of resolution, and, without further
parlance, proceeded to do as desired. The dogs were so far restrained,
by the remonstrances of the old man, as to confine their noise to low
but often-repeated whinings. When they saw the naturalist advance, the
pup, however, broke through all restraint, and made a swift circuit
around his person, scenting the earth as he proceeded, and then,
returning to his companion, he howled aloud.
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