y, rather than in any sense threatening.
Finn was obeying the law of his kind where the weaker sex is
concerned.

After a minute, the kangaroo-hound began to sniff curiously at Finn
instead of snapping at him, and at this, as though ordered to stand
to attention, the Wolfhound drew himself up proudly, and remained
perfectly still and very erect, his long tail curving grandly
behind him, legs well apart, and his magnificent head carried high,
save when, as opportunity offered, he took a passing sniff at any
portion of the kangaroo-hound's anatomy that happened to come near
his muzzle. He was a fine picture of alertness and masculine canine
pride at this time; but, though obviously prepared for any
emergency, the wiry hair on his shoulders lay flat now, and his
mouth was quite closed.

All this while--these elaborate formalities had occupied no more
than three minutes altogether--the boundary-rider, who was a
knowledgeable person with animals, had been standing quite still
beside his fire, watching Finn and his own dog with intent
curiosity. He had never seen a dog at all like Finn, but he felt
certain Finn was a dog, and not a creature of the wild, if only by
reason of his own black hound's attitude. Also, he was not looking
at the Wolfhound through iron bars. He pictured himself hunting
kangaroo with Finn and Jess (the black hound), and the prospect
pleased him mightily. So now he picked up a piece of mutton from
the dish beside the fire, and took a couple of steps in Finn's
direction, holding the meat out before him, and saying in a
friendly way--

"Come on in, then, good dog! Here, boy! Here then!"

Finn eyed the man hesitatingly for a moment. The meat was tempting.
But Finn's memories and fear were strong, and he moved slowly
backward as the man advanced. For a little distance they progressed
in this wise: the man slowly advancing and calling, Finn slowly
retiring backward, and the kangaroo-hound playing and sniffing
about him in a manner which said plainly that he was hereby invited
to make free of her fireside, and become acquainted with her man.

The man was the first to tire of this, as was natural, and, when he
came to a standstill, he tossed the meat from him to Finn, with a
"Here then, boy; eat it there, if you like." But Jess had no notion
of carrying hospitality as far as all this. She sprang upon the bit
of meat, and growled savagely as her nose grazed Finn's. She had
forestalled the Wolfhound, and