the skin was taken off and spread upon the waggon-tilt to dry,
Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus followed, as if to see that it was properly
spread out, Rough'un being the only one who protested against the plan,
for his look plainly said that he wanted to lick that skin on the fleshy
side; and as he was not allowed to go through that process, he kept
uttering low, dissatisfied whines, to Jack's great delight; while, when
he saw Peter climb up, and Dirk hand him the skin, he uttered a yell of
disappointment at what he evidently considered to be the waste of so
much good fat.

This yell from Rough'un had its effects upon Pompey, Caesar, and
Crassus, which triumvirate did not behave at all after the manner of the
stolid, patient, noble Romans whose names they bore; but one and all set
up their noses as high as they could, getting mouth and throat in a
direct line, and sang a trio--but so dolefully out of tune, that Dinny
picked up the General's assegai, and gave each one a tap on the head
with the handle.

At least he meant to do so. He certainly hit Pompey and Caesar sounding
cracks; but Crassus made a movement, and received his blow on the neck--
so unfair a place, he evidently supposed, that it roused his temper, and
he snapped at and seized the handle of the assegai in his teeth.

Now Dinny's hands were greasy with helping to skin the gnu, and the
handle of the assegai kept slipping through his fingers, and threatening
to cut them against the blade; to avoid which, as the dog tugged
fiercely and dragged at the handle, Dinny kept taking a fresh hold hand
over hand, as if he were hauling rope, abusing the dog at the same time.

"Ah, get out, ye dirty baste," he cried. "Let go, will ye?"

_Worry_! _worry_! _worry_! growled Crassus, holding on with all his
might of jaw, which was really great; and seeing the successful effort
made by their companion, Pompey and Caesar began to bark and bay at
Dinny on either side of Crassus.

"Oh, here's a game, Dick!" cried Jack, holding his sides and laughing.

"Call 'em off, will ye?" cried Dinny. "Ah, get out, ye dirty, yelping
bastes."

"Serve you right, for hitting them in that cruel way," said Dick
cynically; while seeing the fun, as they seemed to consider it, Coffee
and Chicory each seized his kiri, and began to perform a war-dance round
Dinny and the dogs.

"Lave go, will ye?" cried Dinny to Crassus. "Sure it's a taste of the
other end I'll be giving ye dreckerly."

Cr