rade?" asked Lucien, smiling.

"Yes, certainly; that is to say, he walks on his toes, and not on the
sole of his feet, exactly like the fox, whose teeth, also, are perfectly
similar to those of Gringalet. The principal difference between them is,
that the fox has eyes which are formed so as to enable it to see in the
dark, a quality which Gringalet does not possess in the same degree."

"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 between 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 without discovering the
least trace of our resting-place. It became 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, patting 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 uplifted. At last we caught sight of the hut, which was greeted
with such pleasure and relief as only known by fatigued 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 raised, had quite a home-like
appearance. Sumichrast said he felt the same impression, and Lucien
declared that his first idea had been that we should find an Indian in
the hut.

But what about Gringalet? Had he then really understood us? Those who
have made a trial of canine intelligence will not doubt the fact for a
moment. The word _bivouac_, having been so often pronounced since we set
out, must have st