and the poets of a long past age told charming stories of its birth and daily life which Phantasia whispered in their ears while Episteme slept.

But Episteme arising from her slumbers found news of Helios brought to her by Selas and by Therme; and as Episteme and Sophia, Thauma and Phantasia communed on the news, Phantasia learnt that her whispered poems about Helios were not half so beautiful as the real story that she was helping Episteme to read.

It happened that one day Baros called Selene and placed her in front of Helios, so that where before there was the shining of the golden light there now was darkness; only round the darkness glowed a roseate crown too faint, too delicate, to trace when Helios gave forth his undimmed radiance.

For a few moments Episteme gazed and Thauma wondered while Selene passed before Helios, and then again the golden rays burst forth and the roseate crown was lost in too much brightness. And so it happened many times, and Episteme yearned for longer visions of the tender radiance that passed so soon. At last Episteme called to her Katanoesis and Peira, the favourites of Queen Phusis, and through them questioned the great Queen, so that she taught them how Selas might be got to bring them daily news of the crown of faint radiance that in the past they only saw when Selene, led by Baros, passed before Helios.

Episteme knew that the shaping and the changing of the crown of light was caused by Therme and by Baros working together as commanded by Queen Phusis, and she learnt also of much other work besides that was done in Helios, and as Episteme looked more closely at the tidings Selas brought, she learnt of mighty struggles between Baros and Therme. In the fierceness of her anger Therme would rend all things asunder; in the quietness of his might Baros would join together what Therme scattered. Episteme watched the struggle and Phantasia made guesses at its issue till once more they sought aid from Katanoesis, who taught them that, elsewhere than in Helios, Baros and Therme had struggled and that in other globes and clusters the battle had been finished and the victory won by Baros. In Ge, they learnt, and in Selene was the battle waged; they too had been parts of the Golden Mist from which Helios was formed: as smaller clusters and as tinier globes they had lived their life; Baros was less mighty in smaller worlds, and Therme too found her powers less enduring than in the mighty Helios. In Selene, so Episteme learnt, Baros had made Therme captive; gradually she had been enclosed in a vast cell that Baros made, from which through many centuries Therme struggled to escape; often she broke her bonds and partially got free, and even the outside of the prison bore traces of the vigour of her life but closer and more close Baros drew the limits of her cell until at last Therme ceased to struggle and Selene grew cold and

dead; the power of Therme passed away and Baros was alone supreme.

Episteme helped by Phantasia saw that what had come to pass in Selene was happening also in Ge, but because Selene was much smaller the struggle was ended sooner, and Episteme came to see that because Helios was far vaster than Ge the fight of Therme against Baros would last longer in Helios but that the issue would be the same.

The Immortals learnt that the radiance of Helios would grow less and less; that, as long ages passed, the news that Selas brought would grow fainter and more faint, and that in the end, in Helios as in Selene, Therme would be made captive and Baros at last become

supreme.

NEW BEGINNINGS OF THE GOLDEN MIST

But not yet were the Immortals satisfied. Thauma asked in sorrow if that was all, and Phantasia imagined new beginnings and her guesses were wild and strange till Logos and Sunesis, Sophia and Episteme brought their aid.

They learnt from Katanoesis that in the farthest parts of Ametros were dull worlds ruled by Baros of which Selas brought no news except that once and again came tidings of a bright effulgence heralding the rule of Therme in parts of the kingdom of Queen Phusis whence Selas brought no messages before.

Phantasia guessed at the meaning of these fresh tidings while Episteme listened to her words and remained silent; she knew not if it was not, or it was, as Phantasia supposed, but the story was entrancing and Sophia lent a willing ear, although not wholly sure that what Phantasia guessed was true; for she imagined that Baros reigning alone in Helios, in Selene or elsewhere, was told by Queen Phusis to draw together lonely globes, that, journeying to one another through the depths of sky, met at Baros's bidding in a close embrace, and at their meeting Therme was born anew and again a Golden Mist was seen by the Immortals, and they guessed that they had seen the new beginnings of the Golden Mist.

And so from age to age, now here now there, in endless cycles of immortal life the Golden Mist is born, transformed and dies, and once again there is a new beginning and other transformations; and Episteme watches still, learning ever more and more; still Phantasia helps her thinking; and Thauma aids her when her thoughts seem cold and dull; while over all, alone, supreme in her kingdom of Ametros, reigns Phusis the mighty Queen.

WILLIAM SCHOOLING.

WAR DOGS

THE extraordinary characteristics of the dog-his watchfulness, docility, the acuteness of his senses, his affection for mankind, and his speed, enable him to be of immense value for military purposes, and the employment of dogs for such purposes can hardly be called an invention of modern times. Far back in the mists of antiquity we gather that the usefulness of the dog as an auxiliary in war was known, and to the ancients belongs the honour of having first used dogs in this connection. They used them for the purposes of defence and attack, but the war dog of to-day, in consequence of a completely different method of warfare, has to fulfil totally different duties, and, as a means of actual attack or defence, is out of the question. It may not be without interest to recall a few of the historical dates, referring to the many-sided use of war dogs and the many people who used them.

Plutarch and Pliny both mention war dogs in their writings. At the siege of Mantinea, Agesilaus employed dogs, as did also Cambyses in his campaign in Egypt 4,000 years B.C. Æneas mentions dogs as being used to carry despatches in their collars. The Cymbrians and Teutons had their battle dogs, who inspired fear in the Roman legions. Vegetius, the Roman military writer, informs us that dogs were posted in towers on fortifications to give the garrison timely warning of the enemy's approach by barking, and on a relief at Herculaneum is a representation of a war dog, clad in armour, defending a Roman post against barbarians. The Gauls had also large packs of war dogs clad in armour, and Attila, King of the Huns, had immense ferocious hounds to guard his camp.

In medieval times the war dog often appears defending convoys and luggage; and dogs clad in mail, with scythes and spikes jutting out, were used to distract the enemy's cavalry and bring confusion in his ranks. Even port-fires were placed on the dogs' backs to set fire to the enemy's camps. The Knights of St. John always used dogs on outpost duty, and no patrol was allowed to go out without them. In 1476 the Swiss dogs fought the Burgundy dogs in the battle of Grandson; and at the battle of Merten they destroyed the Burgundy dogs. After the discovery of America by the Spaniards,

many of the natives were tracked and worried by the fierce bloodhounds of the invaders. In 1518 King Charles the Fifth of Spain had 4000 dogs and 4000 mercenaries placed at his disposal by the King of England to fight against Francis the First of France. The French and the Spanish, or rather the English, dogs, which acted as skirmishers on both sides, met in fierce battle, but the Spanish dogs came off victoriously.

The Turks also used dogs as scouts. Napoleon, in his campaign in Italy, used dogs as scouts, and one, by name Moustache, became famous for tracking spies. In 1822, when the Greek insurgents attempted to scale the ramparts of the Acropolis, the attempt failed through the dogs giving timely warning to the Turks. The French learned the use of dogs from the Kabyle tribes of Tunis, and by using them were saved from many ambushes. In the beginning of 1882 the Austrians trained Dalmatian dogs to scent out ambushes, and these dogs hunted out the outlaws like game. In the famous expedition of General Scobeleff against the fortress of Geok Tepe, the Russians were so often surprised by the Turkomans, that General Scobeleff ordered dogs to be trained as a preventive of surprise. Then the Germans, always practical, have devoted nearly twenty years to training and experimenting with dogs. Italy, Russia, and France have also taken them up, and the last two countries to be interested in the matter are Spain and Holland, not to mention the use of dogs in the Philippine war by the Americans. England appears alone, although knowing more about dogs than any other country in the world, to have left them in this respect severely alone.

Let us now consider the duties and qualifications of the war dog. First, the dog should act as a scout to the body of troops to which he is attached on the march, with the advance guard, rear guard, or flank guard, and keep up communication with the different units of the column. Secondly, he should act as an outpost to the outposts, and establish communication between pickets, supports, and reserves, bring in messages from the patrols, and should render especially good service at night. Thirdly, in an engagement, he should be used for transporting reserve ammunition to the firing line, and establishing communication between the different units in the attack. Fourthly, in sieges or investments, he should reduce the number of sentries on both sides, and protect defenders and attackers from surprise. Also, the should carry messages to or from the besieged through the enemy's lines. Fifthly, and one of the most important duties, he should seek for the missing and wounded, after an engagement, in difficult ground, and render aid until medical assistance arrives. Dogs trained up to this standard must necessarily be an invaluable adjunct to the soldier; but it would be unwise to overburden the dog's intelligence by additional work.

We now come to the necessary qualifications of the war dog.

VOL. LVII-No. 37

K K

The stamp of dog is one of the most important points. The varied lines on which the different breeds are built, their coats, powers of endurance, intelligence, &c., offer us a large selection, but not every breed is fit for this work. Some show excellent and unmistakable qualities, but again fail in bodily requirements. Some lack intelligence; with mixed breeds it is an acknowledged fact that the progeny of such cross breeds is not as likely to maintain the qualities of the parents as impure stock, where the qualities required can be produced. What is required is a medium-sized dog-very intelligent, which will do his work quietly; reliable, watchful, and not easy to be led away. He must be able to stand all weathers, his feet must be hard; he should come of a working stock, and be able to stand any privations. In Russia the dog of the Caucasus has been adopted; Austria has made use of Dalmatians; Turkey of Asiatic sheep-dogs; Germany of collies, pointers, and Airdales; France of smugglers' dogs (as used on the Belgian frontier), which are for the most part hardy crossbreds. But at the present time Germany, the most painstaking and methodical military nation, seems to be giving the precedence to collies or sheep-dogs-not show dogs, which, as far as my own experience goes, are useless for this purpose, but dogs which come from a hardy working stock. In my humble opinion, I should say that sable collies with black backs, or dogs with some collie in them, are the best fitted, at any rate for infantry. For cavalry, perhaps, a type with more speed might be employed.

Let us review some of the breeds which are not suitable. Pointers and sporting dogs generally cannot eradicate their love of chase, which, however well trained they may be, might lead to the gravest consequences in military employment. Greyhounds have little intelligence, bad noses, are difficult to teach, and are all born hunters. Fox-terriers and the other terriers are too small. Bulldogs and bullterriers are difficult to manage on account of their pugnacity. The poodle has plenty of intelligence, but is not fitted for the work. Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, mastiffs, and Danes would soon tire on a hot march in summer, and through their size are more in the way than helpful. For draught purposes they could be used, as is done in the Italian army, but they lack endurance and staying power. We now come to collies or sheep-dogs; a pure-bred collie is too highly strung, but the working collie or sheep-dog, which for generations has carried on his daily work, often in most difficult country, in all weathers, with little food, with inimitable affection, and continuous watchfulness and almost human intelligence, comes nearest to the standard required. The smooth collie is also an excellent subject.

Now as regards colour. In reconnoitring, dark-coloured horses would be employed instead of grey or light-coloured ones. War dogs should therefore also be of a non-conspicuous colour, and white should be avoided. The sex ought to be taken into consideration,