San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-08-25
Does a Dog Think?
New York Recorder

was visiting a friend near
Baton Rouge, La, who was the
owner Of big, tawny-colored New
foundland, that during the day
was usually chained to his kennel,
about rod from the comfortable,
shady veranda.
Our nearest neighbour, my friends
brother, who lived at some distance
owned two dogs that were aim ost
inseparable companions. jeff, the
smaller, was a little, active and
ambitious busybody, about the
color of the cane brake, and was
always up to mischief except when
hunting 'possum or coon. There
he meant business from the start,
and could tree more coOns and I'M
earth more 'possums than any dog
Of his inches in that part of the
country; and have known him to
pick up the trail OF a wild cat when
full pack of hounds were at fault.
| have known jeff at night, when
not in the humor, and dragged
from under the porch and forced
into coon hunt, to start off down
the lane and into the woods
with apparent eagerness and dis
appear in the shadows.
In about fifteen minutes, half a
mile away, we would hear Jetf's
peculiar bark. "COme on, boys,
he's got him ~ Then a run in the
direction of the sound-through
boys, clumps of cane, over logs and
under the overhanging moss.
"Whah be you, Jeff?" Not sound,
Suddenly, from another direction,
but still further in the wood,
would come Jeff's well-known
bark. "COme on, boys; he's a-run-
MIN him ~ Then another chase;
further off, saying as plainly as
dog could speak: "Hurry up; he's
a big one, and l can't hold him %
Away again we go, as eagerly as
if we were hunted instead Of hunt
ers. Finally, after two hours Of
hard running, we would pitch up
at the starting point, and Jetf's
last triumphant bark would come
from under the porch.
Jeff's companion was little, I'M
dersized half-breed Dalmation that
no amount of feeding would fatten,
except in the middle, and after
gorgiug himself he looked like
snake that had swallowed rabbit.
a. 10 Il a
ways hungry and always thirsty,
and food and drink only made him
leaner. He seemed to have inn
plicit confidence in Jetf-a conf
dence was often betrayed; and
once in particular, which brings
me to a consideration of the head
ing of this article.
One warm Sunday, late in the
spring, we were seated out the We
randa. Bob, the Newfoundland,
was chained to his kennel as usual,
and waiting for his dinner, when
jeff, unaccompanied by Willie,
came over on visit.
The cook had just thrown big
bone to Bob, which jeff eyed in a
half apologetic manner, and
marched up to take pot luck. But
the fierce growl and long, white
teeth of Bob kept him at hungry
distance. jeff made several vain
attempts to share Bob's dinner,
then shook his head sadly and
started for home. There" said
nv friend, "that's the first time l
ever saw jeff give up without
fight"
We had forgotten the incident,
and Bob had settled down to en-
Joy his bone, when we heard Jeff's
bark, followed by Willie's long
drawn, plaintiff howl. Presently
both dogs came wriggling through
the fence, and took up their station
Just out of Bob's reach, Willie look
ing implorIngly and jeff in the at
titude of a dog that's been overfed.
Then jeff looked at Willie, as If he
would say, THAT'S the fastest
bone l ever gorged myself with"
at looks dainty" said Willie:
"Bob has had enough, Tll just take
IL, anu ue WOh U hahO " SiuOVOu -
himself" With this the poor little
half-witted animal walked up to
take the bone. Bob seized him by
the back of the neck and started to
shake him in the most approved
fashion. AS he did so jeff made
dash, grabbed the bone, and before
Bob could let go Of Willie and
realize what was going on, JEFF was
under the veranda, just out of
reach, contentedly gnawing the