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@@ -1,38 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dogs of Boytown, by Walter A. Dyer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Dogs of Boytown - -Author: Walter A. Dyer - -Release Date: November 23, 2012 [EBook #41444] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOGS OF BOYTOWN *** - - - - -Produced by Mary Akers, Greg Bergquist and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41444 *** Transcriber's note: Minor spelling inconsistencies, mainly hyphenated words, have been @@ -6351,7 +6317,7 @@ are some that have to do with the trailing of criminals. "One of the classic stories of literature is that of the hound of Montargis. He may have been a St. Hubert hound, or one of the other French hounds, though I have always suspected that he may have been a -matin or dog of the Great Dane type. But the breed is a matter of +mâtin or dog of the Great Dane type. But the breed is a matter of minor importance. The main features of the story are somewhat as follows: @@ -6390,7 +6356,7 @@ near his master's murderer. dispute by ordering the contestants to fight a duel. King Charles decided to adopt this method in an effort to determine whether or not Macaire was guilty, and he ordered a trial combat to take place -between the man and the dog at the Chateau of Montargis on the Isle of +between the man and the dog at the Château of Montargis on the Isle of Notre Dame, Paris. The man was given a stout cudgel as his only weapon, while the dog was provided with an empty cask into which he might retreat if too hard pressed. @@ -8049,361 +8015,4 @@ very life-like. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dogs of Boytown, by Walter A. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Dogs of Boytown - -Author: Walter A. Dyer - -Release Date: November 23, 2012 [EBook #41444] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOGS OF BOYTOWN *** - - - - -Produced by Mary Akers, Greg Bergquist and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber's note: - Minor spelling inconsistencies, mainly hyphenated words, have been - harmonized. Italic text has been marked with _underscores_. Bold - text has been marked with =equal signs=. The original capitalization - of words has been retained. - - - - -[Illustration: Romulus and Remus] - - - - - THE DOGS OF BOYTOWN - - BY - - WALTER A. DYER - - Author of "Pierrot, Dog of Belgium," "Gulliver the Great, - and Other Dog Stories," "The Five Babbitts at - Bonnyacres," etc. - - [Illustration: Printer's logo] - - NEW YORK - - HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY - - 1918 - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1918. - - BY - - HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY - - THE QUINN & BODEN CO. PRESS - RAHWAY, N. J. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - I SAM BUMPUS AND HIS NAN 1 - - II SAM'S SHACK 16 - - III ROMULUS AND REMUS 33 - - IV IN ROME 47 - - V THE WILLOWDALE KENNELS 61 - - VI ANXIOUS DAYS 81 - - VII SOME OTHER DOGS, INCLUDING RAGS 96 - - VIII DOG DAYS 120 - - IX THE TRAINING OF ROMULUS 135 - - X WILLOWDALE DOGS IN NEW YORK 152 - - XI THE BOYTOWN DOG SHOW 166 - - XII CAMP BRITCHES 183 - - XIII THE PASSING OF RAGS 199 - - XIV THE COMING OF TATTERS 215 - - XV ROMULUS AT THE TRIALS 230 - - XVI THE MASSATUCKET SHOW 245 - - XVII THE TEST OF REMUS 265 - - XVIII ON HULSE'S POND 280 - - XIX EVERY DOG HIS DAY 293 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - PAGE - - ROMULUS AND REMUS _Frontispiece_ - - ENGLISH SETTER 7 - - CHOW CHOW 30 - - ENGLISH BULLDOG 56 - - WHITE ENGLISH BULL TERRIER 64 - - AIREDALE TERRIER 70 - - POMERANIAN 79 - - PEKINGESE 84 - - GREAT DANE 98 - - TOY POODLE 117 - - IRISH TERRIER 147 - - BOSTON TERRIER 179 - - COLLIE 202 - - BEAGLES 250 - - OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG 271 - - - - -THE DOGS OF BOYTOWN - - - - -CHAPTER I - -SAM BUMPUS AND HIS NAN - - -There are misguided people in this world who profess to believe that -only grown-ups can fully appreciate the beauties of nature. Oh, the -grown-ups talk more about that sort of thing, to be sure, and know how -to say poetic things about winter fields and sunsets that are usually -locked in a boy's heart. But for the fullest appreciation of blue -skies and autumn woods and sandy shores, and the most genuine -enjoyment of broken sunshine on the forest floor, the smell of falling -oak leaves, and the song of the wind in the pines or rustling across -broad, rolling fields, give me a boy every time. I know, for I have -been one. - -That is why I am going to begin this story about boys and dogs by -telling of a certain crisp October morning--a Saturday morning when -boyhood enjoys its weekly liberty. There had been frost the night -before and the air was still cool and very clear. It was like drinking -cold water to take long breaths of it. The golden sun was rising -high above the rounded hills to the east and the sunlight turned to -glistening silver the shreds of smoke that drifted lazily up from the -chimneys of Boytown in the little valley a mile or so away. - -I must digress for a moment to speak of Boytown. You will not find it -on the map, for that is not its real name. It is not always wise to -call people and places by their real names in a book, and so I have -given this name to the Connecticut town where lived all the boys and -the dogs that I am going to tell about. It was a nice old town, just -about the right size, with a broad main street where the stores and -business buildings were, and in the upper end of which a narrow green -ran down the middle with a row of big elm trees in it. Most of the -people lived on the side streets, some of which ran for quite a -distance up Powder Mill Hill to the west. But most of the pleasant -places in this part of the world lay to the east. The railroad ran -along that side of the town, and beyond it were the brickyards and -Hulse's Pond. If you were in search of adventure, you skirted this -pond, went up over a long, grassy hill, and at length entered the -woods which stretched all the way to Oakdale, broken now and then by -farms and open stretches of hilly meadow or pasture land. - -Here in the woods there was much to be seen on this fine October -day. There were squirrels everywhere, busy with the harvesting of -their winter's supply of nuts, and if you were lucky you might catch a -glimpse of a cottontail rabbit disappearing into a thicket, or a -grouse shooting off among the trees with a great whirring of wings. -The autumn foliage was at its finest, the deep green of pine and -hemlock mingling with the crimson of the oaks, the flaming scarlet of -the maples, and the translucent gold of the silvery-stemmed birches. -Above the trees the sky was that soft blue color that you like to lie -on your back and look at, with here and there fleecy little clouds -constantly changing into all sorts of odd and whimsical shapes. From -the branches of a tall pine a flock of sooty crows, alarmed by the -sound of human voices, arose all together and floated off over a -little clearing in company formation, cawing loudly. - -If you had been one of those crows, you would have looked down at the -figures of two boys emerging from the woods. One was a slender lad of -about twelve, quite tall for his age, with straight black hair and -bright black eyes. The other, who was perhaps three years younger, was -so plump as almost to deserve the nickname of "Fatty." He had lighter -hair and eyes and there were freckles across the bridge of his not -very prominent nose. Both boys were dressed in their old clothes and -carried white cloth flour bags which already contained a few quarts -of chestnuts. They stood gazing with practised eyes at the tree-tops -around the little clearing. - -"There ought to be some here, Jack," said the older boy. "The biggest -trees always grow near the edges." - -"They're the easiest to get at, too," responded Jack. - -They walked together around the margin of the clearing and at length -located a tree to their liking. With much boosting on the part of -Jack, the older boy at last gained the lower branches and was soon -making the brown nuts rattle down upon the leafy ground. - -After they had stripped three or four trees of their treasure, Jack -threw himself upon his back and began squinting up at a hawk sweeping -high up in the blue sky. - -"I'm tired, Ernest," he said. "Let's go over to the Cave." - -"Oh, it's early yet," replied Ernest, "and we haven't got half a -sackful." - -"We have twelve quarts at home," said Jack. "We don't need any more. -Besides, we haven't been to the Cave for two weeks. It rained so hard -last Saturday that it may need cleaning out." - -"All right," said Ernest. "Come along." - -Jack scrambled to his feet and together they set off into the woods -again. A walk of half a mile or so brought them to a brook which they -followed upstream until they came to a leaky dam of stones and logs -which they had built the previous spring and which held back enough -water to make a small pond above. This they called their Beaver Dam -and Beaver Pond, and in the sandy bank at one side was Trapper's Cave. - -Beaver Pond lay just within the edge of the wood, and from the Cave -one's eyes commanded a view of an old, disused pasture, now grown up -to sumacs and blueberry bushes, which stretched up and over a long -hill that seemed to bear the rim of the blue sky on its shoulder. One -could sit unobserved in the mouth of the Cave, quite hidden by the -saplings and undergrowth of the wood's edge, and watch all that went -on outside, with the depths of the dark, mysterious, whispering forest -at one's back. - -The Cave itself would hardly have housed a family of real -Cave-Dwellers. It was neither very large nor very skilfully built, but -it amply served the purpose for which it was intended. It was dug out -of the soft sand of the bank. Two boards in the ceiling supported by -two birch props did not entirely prevent the sand from falling in, and -every visit to the Cave was attended by housecleaning. Nevertheless, -it was a delectable rendezvous for adventurers. - -At one side was a low bench built of fence boards and at the other a -soap box with a hinged cover, hasp, and padlock, which served as a -treasure chest and which contained, among other things, a hatchet, an -old and not very sharp hunting knife, a dozen potatoes, and a supply -of salt and pepper. At first the boys had attempted to build a -fireplace at the back of the Cave, with a hole cut through the roof to -the surface of the ground above to serve as a chimney, but it proved -unsuccessful, and a circular pile of stones in front, with a rusty -kettle supported on two forked sticks, now served as campfire and cook -stove. - -The boys filled the kettle at the little pond, not because they wished -to boil anything, but because it made a fire seem more worth while. -Then they kindled a blaze beneath it, and when there were enough red -coals, they thrust four of the potatoes among them. - -"Now for a good feed," said Ernest. - -At length, when the potatoes were burned black on the outside, they -pronounced them done and drew them out of the coals. They broke them -open gingerly, for they were very hot, and disclosed the mealy -insides, not at all troubled by the fact that the edible portion was -liberally sprinkled with black specks from the charred skins. Adding -salt and pepper, and using their jackknives as spoons, they proceeded -to eat with a relish which their mother would have found it -difficult to understand. - -As they were engaged in this pleasant occupation, Ernest suddenly rose -to his feet and peered out through the saplings. - -"What is it?" demanded Jack. - -[Illustration: English Setter] - -"Sh!" cautioned the older boy. "It's a man. He's coming down the hill. -He's got a gun and a dog with him." - -Jack arose and stood on tiptoe beside his brother. Together they -watched the approach of a strange figure--a tall, lanky, raw-boned -individual wearing a rusty old felt hat and with an old corduroy -hunting coat flapping about him. In his hand he carried a -double-barreled shotgun which appeared to be the best-kept thing about -him. Running ahead of him was a beautiful English setter, speckled -white with black markings. Her every motion was swift and graceful as -she ran sniffing from one clump of shrubbery to another. Sometimes the -man would give a peculiar little whistle, and then the dog would pause -and look up, and then dart off to right or to left in obedience to a -wave of the man's arm. - -Suddenly the dog stopped and stood rigid as a statue, her tail held -out straight behind, one foreleg raised, and her neck and nose -stretched toward a patch of sheep laurel. The man stealthily -approached while the dog stood perfectly motionless with quivering -nostrils. - -They were quite near the boys now. There was a sudden movement in the -sheep laurel, a whir of wings, and four or five birds rose swiftly -into the air and shot off toward the woods. - -"Bang!" went the man's gun, and both boys jumped so that they scarcely -noticed a bird fall. - -"Bang!" went the other barrel almost immediately, and another bird -fell fluttering to earth. Then the dog broke her point and brought the -birds back to her master in her sensitive mouth. - -To tell the truth, the boys were a little frightened at this -gun-fire so close at hand, especially Jack, and they watched anxiously -as the man reloaded his gun. But the birds had disappeared and the man -started off in the direction they had taken. He whistled to his dog, -but a new scent had attracted her attention, and she trotted down -toward the brook and began sniffing the air. - -"She smells our potatoes," said Ernest. - -Jack forgot his fears in this new interest. - -"Let's call her over," said he. - -"Come here, sir!" called Ernest, making a kissing noise with his lips. -"Come here!" - -The dog lightly leaped the brook and came slowly up the bank toward -the Cave, her tail waving in a friendly manner. Ernest scraped out a -bit of potato and held it out to her. She stood for a moment, -sniffing, as if in doubt. Then she came forward and daintily took the -proffered food. In a few minutes both boys were smoothing the silky -head, looking into the fine eyes, and talking to their visitor. - -"Tryin' to steal my dog?" - -They had not noticed the man's approach, he had stepped so softly, and -the gruff voice so close beside them startled them. - -"Oh, no," protested Ernest, hurriedly. "She--we----" - -The man's face was very solemn, but there was a humorous twinkle in -his eyes that somehow made the boys feel easier. The dog placed her -paw on Jack's arm as though begging for more petting. - -"Won't you sit down?" asked Ernest, in an effort to be polite. - -The man's face broke into many wrinkles and he laughed aloud. - -"Don't know but what I will," said he, "if you ain't afraid I'll hurt -your parlor chairs." - -It was now the boys' turn to laugh, and the ice was broken. The man -squatted down beside the fire as though glad of a chance to rest, and -the dog stretched herself out at his feet. - -"I'm glad you didn't mean to steal her," said the man, "because then I -wouldn't have no one to find birds for me. Then what would I do?" - -There seemed to be no answer to this, so Ernest asked him if he had -shot many. - -"Five this morning," said the man, and tumbled the pretty dead things -out of his pockets. - -"They're quail, aren't they?" asked Ernest, stroking one of them. - -"Yep," said he, "Bob-Whites. They're runnin' pretty good this year, -too." - -Something in the man's friendly manner inspired a sort of boldness in -young Jack. - -"Don't you hate to shoot them?" he asked. - -The man looked into Jack's frank brown eyes for a moment and then -moved a little closer. - -"Say," he said, "I'll tell you a secret. I s'pose I've shot more birds -and rabbits than any man in this county, if I do say it, and I never -bring down a partridge or kill a chicken that I don't feel sorry for -it. I ain't never got over it and I guess I never shall. But it's the -only thing old Sam Bumpus is good for, I reckon, and it has to be -done. Folks has to eat and I have to make a livin'. I don't do it for -fun, though I don't know any finer thing in this world than trampin' -off 'cross country with a gun and a good dog on a fine mornin'. It's -my business, you see." - -"Gee!" exclaimed Ernest. "I'd like that business better than -insurance, I guess. That's what my father is." - -"Who is your father?" inquired Sam Bumpus. "You see I'm very -partic'lar who I know." - -"He's Mr. Whipple. We're Ernest and Jack Whipple." - -"Oh, you live down on Washburn Street?" - -Ernest nodded. - -"Well, that's all right," said Sam. "I guess you'll pass." - -He seemed in no great hurry to be getting on. Taking an old black pipe -from his pocket he filled it from a greasy pouch and lighted it. He -took a few reflective puffs before he spoke again. - -"What do you know about dogs?" he asked, abruptly. - -"Why--not very much, I guess," confessed Ernest. - -"We like them, though," added Jack. - -"Well, that's half the game," said Sam. "There's two kinds of people -in this world, them that likes dogs and them that don't, and you can't -never make one kind understand how the other kind feels about it. It -just ain't possible. And if you don't like dogs you can't never know -dogs, and if you don't know dogs you're missin'--well, I can't tell -you how much." - -"I've known Nan here," he continued, stroking the setter's head, while -she looked up at him with adoration in her eyes, "I've known Nan for -goin' on seven years, and I learn somethin' new about her every day. I -raised her from a puppy, broke her to birds, and lived with her summer -and winter, and I tell you I never seen a man or a woman that knows -any more than what she does or one that I could trust so far. That's -the thing about a dog; you can trust 'em. There's bad dogs and good -dogs, and no two is just alike, but if you once get a good one, hang -onto him, for you'll never find another friend that'll stick to you -like him." - -The man seemed so much in earnest that the boys remained silent for a -time. Then Jack asked, "Can she do tricks?" - -"If you mean sit up and roll over and play dead, no," said Sam. "I -don't believe in spoilin' a good bird dog by teachin' 'em things that -don't do 'em no good. But what she don't know about huntin' ain't -worth knowin'. It positively ain't." - -For half an hour more Sam Bumpus told the boys of various incidents -that proved the sagacity of Nan and the other dogs he had owned. He -told how once, when a burning log rolled from his fireplace in the -night and set his little house on fire, a pointer named Roger had seen -the flames through the window, had broken his collar, plunged through -the mosquito netting across the window, and had wakened his master by -pulling off the bedclothes and barking. - -"If that dog hadn't known how to think and plan, I wouldn't be here -to-day talkin' to you boys." - -Suddenly he jumped to his feet. - -"That reminds me," said he. "I've been sittin' talkin' here too long. -I've got to be about my business and your folks'll wonder why you -don't come home to dinner. Come, Nan, old girl." - -The setter sprang up, yawned, and then stood ready for the next -command. Both boys patted her and then held out their hands to Sam. - -"I hope we'll see you again sometime," said Ernest. "We like to hear -you tell about your dogs." - -The man's tanned face seemed to soften a little as he shook hands with -the boys. - -"Well," said he, "I guess you can see me if you want to. My social -engagements ain't very pressin' just now. I ain't got one of my -business cards with me, but you can just call anywhere in these woods -and ask for Sam Bumpus. The dogs'll know me if the men don't. So long, -boys," and he strode off down the bank with Nan dashing joyously -ahead. - -"Good-by, Mr. Bumpus," called Ernest and Jack. - -He paused in the act of leaping the brook and looked around, with the -twinkle in his eyes. - -"Say," he called back, "if I ever hear you call me that again I'll set -the dog on you. My name's Sam, d'ye hear?" Then he slipped in among -the underbrush and was gone. - -Talking animatedly about their new acquaintance and about dogs, the -two boys hastened to lock up their treasure chest and depart. - -"Say, Ernest," said Jack, as they started off through the woods with -their bags of chestnuts over their shoulders, "the Cave is a great -place for adventures, isn't it?" - -That evening, as the family were gathered in the living-room on -Washburn Street, and Mrs. Whipple was trying to repair the damage -that chestnutting had wrought in a pair of Ernest's stockings, the -boys asked their father if he knew Sam Bumpus. - -"Bumpus?" he asked. "Oh, yes, he's that queer fellow that lives all -alone in a shack in the woods off on the Oakdale Road. An odd -character, I guess, from all I hear, but they say he's a wonderful -shot and people take their bird dogs to him to be broken. How did you -hear about him?" - -The boys told their story, and then Ernest asked wistfully, "Papa, -when can we have a dog?" - -"When your mother says you can," replied Mr. Whipple, with a smile. - -Sorrowfully the boys went off to bed, well knowing what that meant. -For Mrs. Whipple was one of the people that Sam Bumpus had spoken -of--the kind that don't like dogs. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -SAM'S SHACK - - -The next Saturday was gray and chilly, but the weather did not deter -Ernest and Jack Whipple from starting off early for the woods. They -carried their chestnut bags as a matter of course, but this time the -chestnut trees offered them very little enticement. The ones they knew -best had already been robbed of their nuts, and they soon wearied of a -somewhat profitless search. It was Jack who voiced what was in the -minds of both boys. - -"I wish we could run across Sam Bumpus again," he said. - -Sam had said they could find him in the woods, but the woods had never -seemed so extensive and it was like hunting for a needle in a -haystack. They arrived at Beaver Pond and the Trapper's Cave without -encountering any sign of the man and his dog. - -Chiefly as a matter of habit they built a small fire in front of the -Cave and sat down beside it on their log seat to consider the problem -of finding an elusive hunter in the wide woods. They did not even open -the treasure chest. - -"He said anybody could tell us where to find him," said Jack, "but -there's no one to ask. People don't live in the woods, do they?" - -Ernest sat pondering. "Well," said he at length, "there's that old -woman that gave us the doughnuts one day. Do you remember? She had a -lot of white hens that went right into her house, and a little dog -named Snider that was so old he could hardly breathe." - -"Oh, yes," responded Jack, brightening up. "Where does she live?" - -"I don't know exactly," said Ernest, mournfully, "but I think it was -over that way. We might find her if we hunted." - -The boys arose, put out their fire carefully, as all good woodsmen -should, and started off through the woods again. They must have -tramped for nearly an hour, but the very uncertainty of the outcome of -their quest gave it a touch of adventure and kept them going. At last, -after following various false clues, they came out unexpectedly and -abruptly into the clearing behind the old woman's house. The cackling -of fowls and the wheezy barking of little old Snider greeted them. As -they approached, the old lady herself appeared in the doorway of her -kitchen, clad in a faded blue dress and leaning on her stick. As soon -as she saw that it was boys her face broke into a smile. - -"Come right in," she said, "and I'll get you some cookies." - -The boys entered and sat in the kitchen chairs to eat their cookies. -They were anxious to be on their way in search of Sam Bumpus, but -politeness demanded that they linger a few minutes. Ernest inquired -after the health of old Snider. The widow shook her head sadly. - -"He's failin'," she replied. "I can see he's failin'. His teeth is all -gone so he can't eat much and he has the azmy pretty bad. It's what us -old folks has to expect, I s'pose, but I don't know what I'll do when -Snider goes. He's all I've got now." - -She wiped away a tear with the corner of her apron while the boys -fidgeted in their chairs. They felt sorry for her, but they didn't -know what to say on an occasion like this. Ernest reached down and -patted the little dog's head. - -"Poor old Snider," he murmured. Somehow that seemed to comfort the old -lady. - -At last Ernest found it possible to ask her if she knew Sam Bumpus. - -"Lor', yes," she responded. "Queer old codger, Sam is, but the -best-hearted man in the world. Many a good turn he's done me. He was -here only this mornin' with some bones to make into soup for Snider." - -"Where did he go?" inquired Ernest. - -"He didn't say where he was goin', but I reckon if you was to go over -to the Poor Farm you could find out. He was headed that way." - -The boys had ridden by the Poor Farm on several occasions but had -never visited it, and they felt a slight hesitation about doing so -now, but the woman assured them that the inmates were all quite -harmless and gave them directions for a short cut. Thanking her for -her kindness, and patting Snider good-by, they set off along a rutty -woods road and in a little while came to the Poor Farm. They crossed -an inclosed field where a small drove of hogs were feeding, and went -around to the front of the big white house. - -They did not have to inquire for Sam Bumpus, for there he was, as -natural as life, sitting on the steps of the veranda with Nan -stretched out beside him. As the boys turned the corner of the house -he arose with alacrity and held out his hand to them. - -"Well, well," he cried in his gruff voice, his face wreathed with -smiles, "this is a sight for sore eyes. Come right up and set down -here. I can't invite you in because this ain't my house. I'm just a -visitor here myself. I have a lot of old cronies here, and besides, I -want to get familiar with the place because I may have to come here to -live myself sometime." - -He rattled on so that the boys didn't have a chance to answer. He -led them up on the veranda to an old man who sat in a rocking chair, -bundled up in a blanket, smoking a pipe carved wonderfully in the form -of a stag's head. - -"These are my friends Ernest and Jack Whipple," he said to the old -man, "and they like dogs." - -At this the old man took his pipe from his mouth with a thin, -trembling hand, looked at them out of pink, watery eyes, smiled, and -nodded his white head. - -"This is Captain Tasker," Sam told the boys. "He don't talk much, but -he's forgotten more than you or I ever knew. Some day I'll tell you -about his dog that followed him to war. He's a Civil War veteran, and -he got wounded at Antietam. Show 'em your Grand Army badge, Captain. -See?" he added to the boys. "I told you I was partic'lar who I knew." - -Nan got up and stretched herself and looked up at her master -inquiringly. - -"Yes, old girl," said Sam, "it's time we was gettin' along." Then, -noticing that the boys looked disappointed, he added, "Come walk a -piece with us, won't you? I'd like to talk with you." - -The boys readily acquiesced, and bidding good-by to Captain Tasker, -they set out with Sam along a leafy woods road, with Nan ranging -ahead. All about them the forest beckoned alluringly, and Sam told -them of spots where grouse and quail abounded, or where one might -reasonably expect to "jump" a rabbit. - -Arriving at length at the Oakdale Road, Sam and the boys seated -themselves for a little while on a fallen log, while the former -concluded a discourse on bird dogs and hunting. - -"Setters," he was saying, "are usually supposed to be the keenest and -pointers the strongest, but in my opinion it all depends on the -partic'lar dog. Nowadays I hear a good deal about the pointer bein' -the best dog, and I've owned some good ones myself. There's nothing -prettier than a strong, wiry pointer doublin' and turnin' in the brush -and freezin' to a steady point. But for my own part, give me a -well-bred Llewellyn setter; they're the humanest dog they is. They've -got the bird sense, too. Oh, you can't beat 'em." - -"Is it hard to train them?" asked Ernest, who was of a practical turn -of mind. - -"Not so hard, if you know how," said Sam. "They have so much brains -that they learn about as fast as you teach 'em. But you've got to know -how to go at it. I've seen good sportsmen make a mess of it. First -off, you've got to find out if they've got a nose. That's easy enough -if you live with 'em and watch 'em. Hide something they want and see -how quick they find it. You've got to take 'em when they're young, -of course. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, you know. But a good -bird dog has got it bred in him, and he picks it up quick enough if -you can only be patient and if you show half as much sense as the dog -does." - -Then he told, in his own peculiar fashion, how he started with the -puppies, teaching them to retrieve objects such as sticks and balls, -and later dead birds that they must learn to carry gently without -using their teeth. - -"Never let 'em think it's just a romp they're havin'," he continued. -"I like to play with puppies as well as anyone, but when I'm breakin' -'em I let 'em understand that it's business. Never let 'em have their -own way if they want to do the wrong thing, and never give 'em an -order without seein' that it's carried out if it takes all day. That's -where the patience comes in. Teach 'em to obey, and you can do most -anything with 'em." - -"Do you whip them if they don't obey?" asked Ernest. - -"Never whipped a dog in my life," said Sam, decidedly, "except a fox -terrier I had once. They're different. A whipped setter is a spoiled -setter, and if you can't make 'em do what you want 'em to without -whippin' 'em or bribin' 'em, you'd better get out of the business. Of -course, I sometimes give a puppy a piece of cookie or something to -show him he's done what he ought to, but I never use the whip. There's -other kinds of punishment that work better and don't break their -spirits. Just keep 'em from havin' what they want, and tease 'em into -wantin' it awful bad, and you can make 'em do most anything." - -He then went on to explain his method of teaching a young dog to hold -his point in the field. He used a long rope tied to a stout collar, -and led the dog to a thicket where a dead bird lay. When the dog got -the scent and started to dash in, a sharp jerk on the rope restrained -him, and in time he was thus taught to stand rigid when the scent came -strong to his nostrils. - -"That's one way to teach a dog not to chase chickens, too," he added. -"But a puppy born of trained parents gets the pointin' habit almost by -instinct, and retrievin', too. The main thing is to make him -understand that he's got to do the trick and not something else that -happens to pop into his head. After that, you can teach 'em to answer -your whistle or a wave of your hand and hunt just where you want 'em -to." - -"Aren't they afraid of a gun at first?" asked Jack, who had never -learned not to jump when a gun went off. - -"Some of 'em are," said Sam. "If a dog is gun-shy he's got to be -broken of that before he's any good in the field. Some folks say you -can never break a dog that's really gun-shy, but I never seen one yet -that I couldn't cure." - -"How do you do it?" asked Ernest. - -"Well, one way is to give the dog something he wants every time you -shoot off a gun. You can shoot over his dinner, and not let him have -any till he comes up to where you and the gun are. Keep at it, and -after awhile he begins to connect the sound of the gun with things -that he likes. Always take a gun when you go out for a walk with him, -and after awhile he will bark and act happy every time you take it -from the rack. The whole idea of breakin' a bird dog is to make him -think that the thing you want him to do is the thing he wants to do, -and never let that idea get away from him." - -The boys continued to ply him with questions, for this was a subject -that they had never heard about before, and Sam willingly added more -details of the process of training. At length he took a big dollar -watch from his pocket and consulted it. - -"Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!" he exclaimed. "I didn't know it was gettin' so -late. I'll have to be hurryin' along. Say," he added, a little -wistfully, "come up to my house and see me sometime, won't you? I -ain't got anything very elegant up there, but I could show you -something in the line o' dogs and guns that might interest you." - -"Oh, we'd love to, if our folks'll let us," said Ernest. "Where do you -live?" - -Sam gave them careful directions. - -"First and third Tuesdays used to be my days for callers, but nobody -came," said he, as he started up the road with Nan. "So now any old -day will do--if I'm home." - -"How about next Saturday?" asked Ernest. - -"Saturday it is," said Sam Bumpus, and with a wave of his hand he -vanished around a bend in the road. - -Clothes do not make the man, and boys are apt to overlook certain -superficial peculiarities and defects which seem more significant to -their elders. In Sam Bumpus they saw only a man of good humor and -wonderful wisdom, a man whose manner of life was vastly more -interesting than that of the common run of people, whose knowledge of -the lore of woods and fields, of dogs and hunting, entitled him to a -high place in their estimation. They overlooked the externals, the -evidences of poverty and shiftlessness, his lack of education, and saw -only his native wit and shrewdness, his kinship with the world of -nature, and his goodness of heart. They considered it a piece of rare - good fortune to have made the acquaintance of so wise and -sympathetic a person and they felt indebted to him for permission to -visit him, to hear him talk, and to glean from him something of the -knowledge that had come to him through experience. - -To Sam Bumpus, however, the obligation seemed to be on the other side. -The boys did not know it, but Sam Bumpus was a lonely man and craved -human companionship. He lived like a hermit in his little shack in the -woods and his peculiarities had set him somewhat apart from the world -of men. He had no living relatives, and apart from the old lady in the -woods road, the inmates of the Poor Farm, and a few other -out-of-the-way people with whom he had been able to win his way -through his natural generosity and kindness, he had practically no -friends but his dogs. He understood dogs better than he understood -men, and, to tell the truth, he esteemed them more highly; yet he -sometimes hungered for human comradeship. That two frank-hearted, -unspoiled boys should seek him out and seem to desire his company gave -him a feeling of unaccustomed satisfaction, and he looked forward to -their promised visit fully as eagerly as did the boys themselves. - -This proposed visit was such an unusual affair that Ernest Whipple -considered it advisable to speak to his father about it. Mr. Whipple -was reading his paper and made but little comment, but Mrs. Whipple, -who was in the room at the time, raised objections. - -"Don't you think it might be unsafe for the boys to go away off there -alone?" she asked anxiously. "We don't know anything about this man. -He may have a bad influence on them, even if nothing more serious -happens to them. He's a very uncouth person, I should say, and hardly -a fit companion for little boys." - -"Oh, I don't think he'll hurt them," said Mr. Whipple from behind his -paper. - -But the mother wasn't satisfied, and after the boys had gone to bed -she again brought the matter up. - -"Well, mother," said Mr. Whipple, "he probably isn't the sort of -guide, philosopher, and friend that we would have picked out for the -boys, but parents can't always do the picking. They are getting older -all the time, and sooner or later they must be thrown on their own -resources. Self-reliance doesn't come from constant protection and -hemming in. We can't keep them from striking up acquaintances, and -before we raise objections we should be sure that they're well -grounded; then we shall be able to make our objections count for -more." - -"But I should think there was good ground for objection in this case," -she persisted. "This man seems to be so crude and rough, if nothing -worse." - -"Oh, he's all right," responded the father. "Don't think I'm careless -about these things. I've made some inquiries, and though I find that -Bumpus is unconventional and queer, as they say, and improvident and -uneducated, he's honest and law-abiding. So far as I can find out, the -worst thing he ever does is to give tobacco to the inmates of the Poor -Farm. I know people right here on Washburn Street that would do the -boys more harm. Just because he doesn't live like folks on Washburn -Street doesn't make him bad." - -"Well," said Mrs. Whipple, doubtfully, "I suppose you know best, but -for my part I would much prefer to keep them safe home with me, for -some years to come." - -"That's because you've never been a boy," said Mr. Whipple, with a -smile in his eyes. "I have, and it doesn't seem so very long ago, -either." - -Mrs. Whipple was not satisfied, but she did not forbid the proposed -visit. The next Saturday, therefore, found them early on their way, -filled with joyful anticipations. - -Sam's shack, when at last they arrived, proved to be a forlorn affair, -built of boards of different widths, some red, some white, and some -unpainted. The sagging roof was of corrugated iron and the only -chimney was built of cement pipe guyed up with wires. But to the eyes -of the boys it was a most attractive abode. Never before had they -seen such an interesting house. There must be an element of sport in -living in a cabin like this, they thought. - -Sam heard their footsteps and met them smilingly at the door. He -ushered them at once inside, where he had a wood fire roaring in his -stove, for the day was chilly, and he promptly set before them glasses -of milk and hot corn bread. Though they had breakfasted only two hours -before, they fell to with gusto, for that is the way of boys. - -"How do you like my corn bread?" asked Sam. - -"M-m!" murmured Jack, taking a fresh bite. - -"Do you bake it yourself?" inquired Ernest. - -"Sure," said Sam. - -"Gee!" exclaimed Ernest, looking up at him with admiration. - -After they had fully refreshed themselves, Sam took them out through a -back door, from which they could see a number of small structures that -looked as though they had been made out of dry-goods boxes. The sound -of excited barking smote their ears, a chorus of canine cries and -yelps. Old Nan came bounding forward to greet the boys, for she knew -them now, and behind her loped a big pointer. - -"This is Hillcroft Dick," said Sam, by way of introduction. "He's a -famous dog, a champion on the bench and at the trials. He ain't my -dog, though. I'm just boardin' him for a man that's gone to -California. I wish I owned him, though. He's a great dog." - -[Illustration: Chow Chow] - -The boys didn't understand the reference to bench shows and field -trials, but they gathered that Dick was some sort of nobleman among -dogs and they were visibly impressed. - -"Now we'll go out to the kennels," said Sam. - -There were seven dogs, all told, besides Nan and Dick. There were -two cocker spaniels, in the first place, that Sam said he was training -for a man in Oakdale. - -"I like a bigger dog, myself," said he, "but there's a lot of good dog -wrapped up in these small bundles. They're smart as whips, and though -I've got to make 'em forget their foolin' and parlor tricks, I'll soon -have 'em able to find and retrieve. Sometimes you can even teach a -spaniel to point." - -The other five were all Sam's dogs, another pointer, a little smaller -than Dick, and four beautiful English setters. - -"They've got the best blood in the land," said Sam, proudly, "and -every one of 'em is letter perfect on his job. This is Rex and this is -Robbin and this is Rockaway." - -The boys patted and spoke to each in turn, hugely enjoying this -introduction to Sam's family. - -"And this one over here is the best of all," he continued. "That's -Nellie, own sister to Nan, and what she don't know wouldn't hurt a -flea. But I guess I'd better keep you away from her to-day. She ain't -feelin' very well." - -After they had fondled and played with the dogs to their hearts' -content, the boys followed Sam again into the house, where they spent -the rest of the morning smoothing Nan's silky hair and listening to -wonderful stories about the sagacity of Nellie and the other dogs. - -So pleasantly was the time employed that it was eleven o'clock by -Sam's big watch before they thought it possible, and as they had -promised to be home in time for dinner, they were obliged, -reluctantly, to take their departure. - -As they turned the bend in the road they looked back and saw Sam -standing in his low doorway with Nan sitting picturesquely beside him. - -"Come again soon," called Sam. - -"We will," the boys shouted in reply. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -ROMULUS AND REMUS - - -They did call again, once on the Saturday before Thanksgiving Day and -again in December, when the woods and fields were white with snow and -they wore their warm sweaters and arctics. On each occasion they -became better acquainted with Sam's dogs and learned something new -about training dogs and finding game, and Sam showed them the -mechanism of his shotguns and rifles. He also explained to them his -method of curing the pelts of muskrats and the beautiful silver-gray -fur of the little moles that the people in charge of the Poor Farm -were very glad to have him trap in their garden. And as the boys came -to know Sam's dogs better they began to see how each differed from the -others in character and disposition and in the way they understood and -did things. - -"Just like people," said Sam; "just like people." - -Even Mrs. Whipple was unable to discover that the boys' manners had -been damaged greatly by their association with Sam Bumpus, though she -was surprised at their continuous talk about dogs and the strange -jargon, as it seemed to her, which they used in that connection. She -was no less surprised to find that her husband appeared to understand -the meaning of "bird sense" and "freezing to a point" and "retrieving" -and "blood lines" and "cross-breeding" and to be able to discuss these -mysterious matters with the boys. - -"But what is the good of their filling their heads with all that -stuff?" she asked him. - -"My dear," replied Mr. Whipple, "you may not believe it, but it is -just as much good as arithmetic and geography, and you're always -worrying because they don't take more interest in those things. There -are more ways than one to get an education." - -But Mrs. Whipple only shook her head perplexedly. - -It was on the day before Christmas that the great event occurred that -I have been leading up to. Ernest and Jack Whipple had returned from -an hour's coasting on the long hill over by the brickyard and were -standing on their sleds beside the front gate bemoaning the fact that -the snow had melted so badly and speculating on the surprises which -the morrow might have in store for them. It was vacation, and they -were considering how best to spend the long hours that would intervene -between dinner and time for lighting up the Christmas tree, when -Ernest stopped abruptly in the middle of a sentence and stood -looking up the street. - -"Jack!" he exclaimed. "Look who's coming!" - -Jack turned and beheld the familiar, lanky figure and long, easy -stride of Sam Bumpus. Both boys set up a yell and started on a run up -the street. - -"Merry Christmas, Sam!" they cried. "Merry Christmas!" - -"Merry Christmas, men," replied Sam, grinning. - -One on each side of him, they escorted Sam down the street. - -"Have you come to see us?" inquired Ernest. - -"Why, no," said Sam. "I came to see the President of the United -States, but I found he wasn't in town, so I thought I'd drop in on -you. You haven't seen anything of him around here, have you?" - -The boys laughed delightedly; they had come to understand Sam's kind -of joking. - -"Well, you must come into our shack," said Ernest. "We'll introduce -you to mother, and father will be home soon." - -"Well, I don't know as I'll exactly go in," replied Sam, doubtfully. -"Maybe your mother ain't asked to be interduced to me. Anyway, I can -talk better outside." - -"Where's Nan?" asked Jack. - -"I left her home, doin' up the dishes in the kitchen," said Sam. -"The city don't agree with Nan. It don't agree with me much, either. I -won't stop but a minute." - -"Aw, come on in," pleaded Ernest. - -But Sam shook his head. "No," said he, "I just want to show you -something, and then I must be goin'. Can't we go over to the barn?" - -"Sure," said the boys, and led the way to the stable in the yard that -was now used only as a tool house and garage. - -"We'll show you our carpenter shop," said Ernest. - -But Sam did not stop long to examine the carpenter shop. There was -something very mysterious about his attitude which aroused the boys' -curiosity to top pitch. - -"Come over here," said Sam, stepping toward an unused stall. - -He began fumbling in his capacious pockets, and the boys crowded close -about him, expecting to see some unusual sort of game he had shot. -Suddenly before their astonished eyes there appeared two fuzzy, -dappled puppies, running and sniffing about the floor of the stall. - -"Puppies!" cried the boys in unison. - -"Yep," said Sam. "English setter puppies." - -"Where did you get them?" demanded Jack, catching up one of the -sprawling little dogs in his arms. - -"Nellie gave them to me," said Sam. - -A look of comprehension began to dawn in Ernest's eyes. "So that's why -you wouldn't let us go near her kennel last time we were there," said -he. "She had them all the time." - -Sam grinned. "They're pretty young to take away from their mother," -said he, "but she has three more. She's a good mother, Nellie is. You -ought to see her chase the other dogs away. I had a job of it gettin' -these two weaned before Christmas." - -"Why did you have to get them weaned before Christmas?" asked Jack. - -"Now you jest think that over, and see if you can tell _me_," said -Sam. - -Ernest had already half guessed the wonderful truth, but he didn't yet -dare to say what he thought. - -"Don't be afraid of 'em," said Sam. "They won't bite--or leastways, -not serious. Besides, they're your own dogs." - -"Our own dogs?" gasped Jack in astonishment, the glad light beginning -to break in upon him. - -"Sure," said Sam. "What else would they be here for? I thought Santa -Claus might happen to forget you, and so I brought 'em down." - -"Oh!" cried Ernest. "Christmas presents! To be our very own dogs! I -guess none of the other boys will have such fine presents as these, -Jack." - -But Jack was speechless with joy. - -"Have they got names?" asked Ernest. - -"Sure," said Sam. "I told you how I name all my dogs with names -beginning with the same letter. All my own puppies, I mean. It's for -good luck. There's Rex, you know, and Robbin and Rockaway. These two -are Romulus and Remus and they're twins. This one with the black ear -is Romulus, and this one with the little map of Africa on his side is -Remus. That's how you can tell 'em apart." - -"Which is mine and which is Ernest's?" inquired Jack, at last finding -his voice. - -"Well, now, I hadn't thought of that," confessed Sam. "Suppose you -draw lots for 'em. Here, I'll hold these two broom straws so you can't -tell which is longest. You each draw one, and the one that gets the -longest straw can have first choice of the puppies. Is that fair?" - -The boys agreed to the plan and drew the straws. Ernest's proved to be -the longer one. - -"Well, he's older, anyway," said Jack. "Which one do you choose, -Ernest?" - -"I'll take Romulus," said Ernest promptly, having noted that the one -with the black ear was a shade the larger of the two. - -"All right," said Jack, "and Remus is mine." And he asserted stoutly -that he would have chosen Remus anyway. - -"That's good," said Sam. "Then you're both satisfied. Grown people -would have made more fuss about it, I'll warrant you. - -"Well, I must be steppin' along," he continued. "Take good care of the -puppies, because they're valuable. Remember that they're used to -sleepin' close to a warm mother and see that they have a good bed. I'd -put some rags in a box for 'em if I was you. Let 'em have fresh air -and sunshine and a chance to stretch their legs, but don't let 'em get -wet or chilled through and put their bed where they ain't no draughts. -Remember they ain't got their warm coats yet. - -"Give 'em a saucer of milk with the chill taken off, six times a day, -and break a little bread into it at supper time. In a few weeks you -can cut down to three meals a day, with more solid food, but I'll be -down to see you before then, if you don't get up to see me, and I'll -tell you just how to manage. Let me know if you have any trouble of -any kind, but I guess you won't." - -The clicking of the front gate announced the return of Mr. Whipple to -his noonday meal. The boys ran to the stable door and shouted, -"Father! Oh, father, come see what we've got for Christmas!" - -They dashed toward him and dragged him by main force to the stable. -But when they got there, Sam Bumpus had mysteriously disappeared, -without giving the boys a chance to thank him or to wish him another -Merry Christmas. - -Mr. Whipple examined the puppies with interest and watched their -clumsy antics with amusement. Like most people he could not resist the -charm of a wet-nosed, big-footed, round-bellied, fuzzy little puppy. -Presently, however, a look of doubt came over his face. - -"What do you propose doing with them?" he asked. - -"Why, having them for our dogs," said Jack, surprised that his father -should ask so obvious a question. - -"I mean, where do you plan to keep them?" - -"Why, in our room, I guess," said Ernest. - -But Mr. Whipple shook his head doubtfully. "I don't imagine they've -been taught yet how to behave themselves in the house," said he. "And -anyway, I don't believe your mother will want them there. She doesn't -like dogs, you know." - -"Aw, she wouldn't mind little bits of soft dogs like these," protested -Ernest. - -"Well, you can try it and see," said Mr. Whipple, "but I wouldn't get -my hopes up too high, if I were you." - -Mrs. Whipple did object quite decidedly, and for a time it looked as -though Romulus and Remus were unwanted guests in that household and -that their young masters would be forced to part with them. Tears were -shed, but of that we will say little. At last Mrs. Whipple was -persuaded to grant a truce in order that the Christmas Eve festivities -might not be entirely spoiled. Besides, it was too late now to take -the puppies back to Sam Bumpus, and even Mrs. Whipple was not -hard-hearted enough to think of merely putting them out into the cold. -The upshot of it was that, Delia having been given the evening off, -Romulus and Remus were banished to the kitchen for the night, with a -bed prepared in a box and another box of sand placed hopefully near -by. The boys insisted on serving their supper in two separate saucers -with the idea that each would recognize his own and observe the rights -of the other. - -Occasional stealthy visits to the kitchen that evening disclosed two -remarkably wakeful and active puppies engaged in unexpected -explorations, but at last they curled up together in their new bed, -two innocent little balls of fluff, and Ernest and Jack bade them -goodnight with much ceremony. - -On Christmas Day there was trouble from the start. In fact, it was one -of the liveliest Christmas Days in the history of the Whipple -household. In the first place, when Delia came back early in the -morning to get things started for the Christmas dinner, she -discovered the two little strangers in her kitchen, and promptly made -known the fact that they were puppies whose manners were not at all -what they should be. Mr. Whipple averted a domestic storm by taking -the puppies out into the yard, where he had his hands full to keep -them out of the snow. - -By this time the boys had finished the examination of their bulging -stockings and the larger contributions of St. Nicholas which stood -beside the fireplace, and bethought themselves of Romulus and Remus. -They dashed pell-mell out into the yard where their father was -pondering what he should do with them next. The boys promptly solved -this problem by picking up the puppies, each taking his own, and -carrying them forthwith into the house. - -Mrs. Whipple was in a good humor that Christmas morning, and she -really wanted her boys to be happy all day, so although she added one -admonition to another, she allowed the boys to play with the puppies -in the sitting-room. They would have to part with them soon enough, -she thought, and meanwhile they might as well have as much fun as they -could. - -But as the day wore on her good nature and kind intentions were sorely -tried. Romulus and Remus appeared to think that the house was some -sort of hunting ground especially provided for little dogs, and that -it was their duty to pursue, worry, and kill every sort of strange -creature they could find. Evidently they were imaginative puppies, for -they discovered enemies in overlooked corners of the room, on closet -floors, and everywhere. These enemies might be the discarded paper -wrappings of Christmas presents, or they might be perfectly good balls -of darning cotton. It mattered not to Romulus and Remus so long as -their primitive impulse to catch and slay was satisfied. They were -very bloodthirsty little dogs. - -But it ceased to be a joke, even to the boys, when Mrs. Whipple, for -awhile put off her guard by a period of unusual quiet, discovered -Romulus and Remus engaged in the joint pastime of reducing to small -woolly bits a new gray felt slipper which she herself had presented to -her husband that very morning. Hastily she cleared out the bottom of a -closet, thrust the puppies inside, and ruthlessly closed the door, -deaf alike to the piteous little squeaky whines of Romulus and Remus -and the louder protests of Ernest and Jack. - -"Now you see what they've done!" cried Mrs. Whipple, holding up the -forlorn and tattered remnants of the slipper. "I guess this will about -finish it. Wait till your father comes home." - -Mr. Whipple had gone out for a little while that afternoon, and the -boys awaited his return without much optimism. When his key was at -last heard in the latch they looked at each other with eyes big with -apprehension. - -Somebody had given Mr. Whipple a big cigar, and a lot of people had -wished him Merry Christmas, and he was in a very jovial mood indeed. -Mrs. Whipple and the boys expected to see this mood suddenly change -when he observed the ruined slipper. - -Mrs. Whipple handed it to him without a word. He took it, examined it -carefully with a puzzled expression, and then (strange to relate) -began to grin. (I wonder if the fact that Mr. Whipple detested felt -slippers could have had anything to do with it.) - -The grin broke into a hearty laugh, and Mr. Whipple sank into a chair, -still holding the slipper before him. - -"Well," said he, "they certainly made this look like a last year's -bird's nest. My eye! I should like to have seen them at it. The little -rascals! How did they ever escape your eagle eye, mother?" - -But Mrs. Whipple did not reply. Two red spots glowed in her cheeks and -her eyes were snapping. She turned and left the room. Mr. Whipple -puffed thoughtfully at his cigar for a moment and then rose and -followed her, leaving the boys to engage in whispered conjectures as -to the outcome of the affair. - -I don't know what Mr. Whipple said to his wife in the other room, -but he doubtless apologized for his ill-timed mirth and then talked -over certain things with her. The upshot of it all was that a -compromise was reached in that household. It was decided that Ernest -and Jack might keep the puppies they had so set their hearts upon -provided they were kept entirely away from Mrs. Whipple and were not -permitted to intrude themselves upon her affairs. The boys must assume -entire charge of them and be responsible for their actions, must feed -and care for the dogs themselves without bothering their mother, -paying for their food out of their own earnings and savings, and must -on no condition bring them into the house. That was the ultimatum; -Mrs. Whipple vowed that she would never allow another dog to enter her -doors. - -"It's up to you, boys," said Mr. Whipple. - -Strangely enough, the boys did not feel that these restrictions -imposed great hardship. In fact, it gave them a sense of pride and not -unpleasant responsibility to be given sole charge of Romulus and -Remus. Nothing, indeed, could have suited them better. And they were -so relieved to find that they were not to be deprived of their new -possessions after all that they were quite excitedly happy. - -The only question that now seriously concerned them was to find a -warm, dry place to keep the puppies in during the cold weather, -while they were still so delicate and helpless. It was here that their -mother came to their rescue. Having won her main point about keeping -the dogs out of the house, she was mollified, and perhaps her -conscience troubled her a little. She was really a very tender-hearted -woman, and it occurred to her that her ultimatum might be the cause of -real suffering on the part of the puppies. So it was she who sent for -a carpenter and had him make a sort of room out of one of the old -stalls in the stable, quite tight against draughts, and with a door in -the front for convenience. - -When Mr. Whipple learned of this he laughed and patted his wife on the -shoulder. "I always knew you were a cruel monster," he said. - -He inspected the new abode of Romulus and Remus and expressed his -approval. - -"It's the best thing in the world for them," he said to the boys. -"They will be really better off here than in a heated house. They'll -grow up sturdier and stronger. They only need to be protected against -draughts and dampness, as Bumpus said. But you mustn't forget to keep -both doors closed and to warm their milk and water a little, while -their stomachs are still tender. They'll curl up close together and -never mind the still, dry cold. They'll be all right here." - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -IN ROME - - -Furnishing and decorating the new home of Romulus and Remus proved to -be a most enjoyable task. They took a good-sized box over to the -planing mill and got it filled with sawdust, and dragged it home on -Ernest's sled. They swept out the old stall carefully and sprinkled -the floor liberally with sawdust, holding the rest in reserve, so that -there might always be a clean, fresh supply. Housekeeping was thus -made easy by simply hoeing out the old sawdust. - -For a bed they set a soap box on its side, put in a thick layer of -straw, and tacked a piece of old carpet loosely over it so that it -would be soft and yet the puppies could not scratch it out. They -bought two enameled tin dishes, one for food and one for water, for -they discovered that the puppies did not understand the system of each -having his own. They nailed bits of wood to the floor to hold the -dishes so that they would not be pushed about and overturned. The -puppies enjoyed all this activity immensely, making laughable -efforts to help, and only wailed and wept when their young masters -left the room. - -When it was done, the boys surveyed their handiwork with immense -satisfaction, but Jack would not be satisfied until they had tacked to -the wall several pictures of dogs clipped from papers and magazines, -for Jack insisted that the place must be made homelike. - -They had read somewhere about the original Romulus and Remus of -history, and so they named the apartment Rome. They thought Sam Bumpus -would approve of this since it began with the letter R. Then they -nailed an old horseshoe to the door for luck, called it a day, and -knocked off. - -The next thing to consider was the education of the puppies, and here -the boys felt somewhat at a loss. Romulus and Remus didn't seem to -understand a word of English, and the boys couldn't speak Latin. All -attempts to secure the prompt obedience that Sam had advised ended in -utter failure. Romulus and Remus were very willful and headstrong -puppies. Further advice from Sam seemed desirable. - -Furthermore, about the end of the second week, both puppies appeared -to be ailing. In spite of plenty of milk they had grown thin, and -Romulus appeared to have trouble with the action of his hind legs. -Remus seemed to be chiefly afflicted with itching, and had worn a bare -spot under each foreleg. - -Ernest and Jack became alarmed, and their father could not seem to -tell what the trouble was. Various things prevented the boys from -making the trip to Sam's shack, and besides they wanted him to take a -look at the dogs. They had noticed his free delivery mail box and so -Ernest sent him this brief summons on a postal card: - - DEAR SAM:-- - - Romulus and Remus are sick and we don't know what to do. - - Could you come down some day after school and see them? Also we - want to ask you some things about disaplining them. - - Yours truly, - - ERNEST AND JACK WHIPPLE. - -Sam did not fail them. A couple of days later he appeared at the -Whipple gate and gave the low whistle that he used with Nan. The boys, -humoring his desire not to go into the house, led him at once to Rome. - -"Well, now," said Sam, inspecting the puppies' home with evidences of -approval, "this is quite a palace for the little princes. Some day I -s'pose they'll have hot and cold water, electric lights, and a -doorbell." - -Then he proceeded to examine the puppies while the boys looked on -anxiously. - -"Hm," said he at length. "Just as I expected. Nothing but worms." - -"Worms?" echoed the boys in chorus. - -"Sure," replied Sam. "Most all puppies get 'em sooner or later, and -sometimes they do a lot of harm if you don't get rid of 'em. But we'll -get rid of 'em all right. Get a pencil and paper and write down what I -tell you to get at the drug store and the directions." - -When they reappeared with the necessary articles, Sam continued: -"There's several things that'll take care of worms, but the best and -surest is santonin and calomel. Write that down." - -Ernest wrote as Sam spelled the words. It seemed to be much more of an -accomplishment to be able to pronounce and spell such words than -fulfilment or handicraft. - -"Tell the druggist," said Sam, "to make you up half a dozen pills with -half a grain of calomel and half a grain of santonin in each one. For -big dogs we make 'em one grain each. To-morrow mornin' give the pups a -little milk and then don't feed 'em again till after they've been -dosed. About noon give 'em each a pill, and then, a couple of hours -later, give 'em each a teaspoonful of castor oil. A couple of hours -after that, feed 'em again, and I'll guarantee they'll be all right, -though you may have to do it all over again in a couple of months. Big -dogs have to fast longer and have to have a tablespoonful of castor -oil." - -"How do you give them the medicine?" inquired Ernest, looking at the -squirming puppies doubtfully. - -"Easy enough when you know how," said Sam. "I'll show you. Pick him up -like this and take hold of his nose, pushin' his lips between his -teeth with your thumb and fingers. He can't bite and he has to open -his mouth. Of course, with a bigger dog it's harder if he don't want -to stand still. Then take a pill in your other hand and put it down -his throat as far as you can reach. Then shut his mouth and hold his -head up till he has to swaller. He'll never know what went down. It's -the same way with the castor oil, only you'll have to get Jack to hold -the spoon and put it in when you give the word. Put it way down in, -Jack, and don't get excited and spill it. Get a spoon and I'll show -you how easy it is." - -Jack ran for a spoon and Sam illustrated with a spoonful of water. -Then the boys tried it until they felt themselves sufficiently expert. - -"There's a way of pourin' medicine into the side of a dog's mouth -outside his teeth," said Sam, "but he's apt to spill some of it -before he gets through. Besides, he gets the taste of it that way, and -may run from the sight of a spoon or a bottle ever after. I like my -way better." - -He looked at his watch and announced that he must be going. - -"I'll look in on you again one of these days," he said, "but I know -they'll be all right if you do like I said." - -"And you like Rome, don't you?" asked Jack. - -"Rome?" repeated Sam. - -"We named it that because Romulus and Remus were Romans," explained -Ernest. - -"Yes, it's a mighty good place for them," said Sam. Then he considered -a moment. "Do you expect me to get down and roll in the sawdust and -try to bite things?" - -The boys laughed at the idea, though they didn't exactly know what he -meant. - -"Why?" asked Ernest. - -"Because I've always been told that when you're in Rome you must do as -the Romans do," said Sam, and went away laughing silently. - -The boys followed Sam's instructions to the letter, and when he came -again a week later the puppies were as healthy and lively as crickets. - -"Now," said Ernest, "we want to ask you about training them. We -forgot about that the other day." - -"You don't expect to go gunnin' with 'em for a few days, do you?" -asked Sam. - -"No," said Ernest, "but we want them to learn to come when we call and -do what we say." - -"Well," said Sam, "all it needs is patience. Keep talkin' to 'em and -the first thing you know you'll find they understand words. Then try -to make 'em do what the words mean. Remember they're only babies yet -and be patient with 'em. Keep at it until they answer to their names. -Don't be discouraged. Of course, it'll be harder gettin' 'em -housebroken if you don't let 'em into the house, but I'll guarantee -you'll do it. - -"It ought to be about time to cut down to four meals a day now, and -give 'em shredded wheat or puppy biscuits. And now I'm here, I might -as well give you a little advice about feedin' in gen'ral. You'll -remember it all later. In another month you can cut down to three -meals and maybe add a little chopped meat and gravy at night. Keep -that up till they're six or eight months old, and then you can begin -to feed 'em like grown dogs. - -"In feedin' dogs," he continued, "remember they're like humans. They -ought to have meat and grain and vegetables to get all they want to -build 'em up and keep 'em healthy. Some dogs is very finicky and -won't eat vegetables, but you can learn 'em to eat right if you begin -right. A grown dog don't need but one meal a day, near night, but -sometimes a dog gets so hungry that he overeats or bolts his food, and -then it's a good plan to give him a little breakfast, too. Bones they -can have any time. Bones amuse 'em and help keep their teeth and -digestion in good shape. A good rule is to give a dog a little bread -and milk for breakfast, a bone without too much meat on it about noon, -and a good dinner at night, with all sorts of things in it. Get shin -of beef or some other cheap meat at the butcher's and boil it good. -Save the bone and the soup. Cut the meat up in small pieces, mix it -with bread or rice and any vegetables left over from the -house--onions, cabbage, carrots, or anything but potatoes. They ain't -very good for dogs. Mix the food all up together and moisten it with -the soup, but don't have it too wet. Stale bread is better for 'em -than fresh bread. Never give 'em chicken or rabbit bones that may -splinter and injure 'em inside. Don't give too much pork or fat of any -kind. Don't give 'em much candy or sweet stuff. Some folks bake bread -or cakes specially for dogs, but if you do that, don't use much corn -meal. It's too heatin' in summer and it's apt to cause skin trouble. -If anything seems to disagree with 'em, like baked beans, or sweet -corn, or rice, cut it out; you can tell. Last of all, always keep -plenty of clean, fresh water where they can get it. A thirsty dog is -never happy." - -These and other instructions the boys obtained from Sam Bumpus from -time to time, and as the days went by they were pleased to see their -dogs growing bigger and stronger. Slowly, too, they began to learn the -meaning of things and to obey their masters' voices. Raising dogs -proved to be the most fascinating thing that Ernest and Jack Whipple -had ever undertaken. - -By February they were very proud of their charges and anxious to show -them off. Consequently they welcomed a visit one Saturday morning from -Harry Barton, a chum of theirs. Harry appeared unannounced and -accompanied by his big, bow-legged English bulldog, Mike. He went -directly to the barn, from which issued the voices of the Whipple boys -and their dogs, and entered Rome. The unexpected appearance of Mike -startled Jack, and he picked Remus hastily up and held him in -protecting arms. But Harry only laughed. - -"What you 'fraid of?" he inquired. "Mike wouldn't hurt a kitten. He -looks ugly and that's what scares tramps away, but he never bit -anything. You ought to see the baby walk all over him." - -"Come on in, then," invited Ernest. - -Mike went slowly up to Romulus and sniffed at him noisily. At first -the puppy was frightened, but finding that he was not attacked he -made one or two playful little lunges at the bulldog and then stood -off and barked shrilly at him, Remus joining in the chorus and -struggling to be set down. - -"They've got spunk, all right," said Ernest, proudly. - -[Illustration: English Bulldog] - -Mike sniffed at Remus also, then yawned in a bored sort of way, -waddled out of Rome as though his years and dignity forbade his -association with such frivolous company, and thumped down on the floor -outside. All three boys laughed. - -"Well, what do you think of 'em?" Ernest asked presently. "Some dogs, -eh?" - -"Oh, they'll prob'ly be all right when they grow up," said Harry, -unwilling to concede too much. "They'll have to grow a lot, though, -before they know as much as Mike." - -"But a bulldog can't hunt like a setter," said Ernest, flying to the -defense of his breed. - -"Who wants to hunt?" demanded Harry. "Hunting isn't all a dog's for, -is it? A bulldog's a better watchdog than a setter." - -Ernest, not knowing whether this was so or not, made no reply. - -"But aren't they cunning, Harry?" asked Jack. - -"Oh, sure, they're cunning," said Harry, satisfied that he had scored -his point. "Can they shake hands yet?" - -"Not yet," said Jack. - -"Mike can shake hands," said Harry, "and take the mail from the -postman, and do lots of things." - -"But he can't hunt," insisted Ernest, returning to the attack. - -"I'd rather have a bulldog than a setter, any day," said Harry. "Why, -the bulldog is one of the best kinds of dogs. It's an older kind than -the setter. They used them in England for fighting bulls hundreds of -years ago. A bulldog is brave and faithful, and he sticks to things. -He isn't a flyaway kind of a dog." - -"But they're so homely," objected Jack, glancing out at Mike. - -"Ho," cried Harry, "who ever heard of a pretty bulldog? We don't want -'em pretty. Mike's just like a bulldog ought to be, thick-set, -muscular, with wide chest, elbows set far apart, and undershot jaw. -See?" - -It sounded very much as though he were reading it out of a book, and -the other boys were much impressed. Ernest found himself wondering -where Harry had picked up his dog lore. - -"What do you know about setters?" demanded Harry. - -Ernest, in the face of superior wisdom, admitted that he didn't know -very much. - -"Well, you ought to," said Harry. "What's the use of having dogs if -you don't know all about them?" - -"Sam Bumpus has told us a good deal about training and hunting," said -Jack. - -"Yes, but what do you know about the breed, where it came from and all -that? Do you want to find out?" - -"Sure," said Ernest. - -"Well, I'll tell you where you can find out," said Harry. "I know a -man that knows more about dogs than anybody else in the world, I -guess." - -"Who is he?" demanded Ernest. - -"Did you ever hear of the Willowdale Kennels?" asked Harry. - -Ernest was forced to admit that he had not. - -"Well, they're over at Thornboro," said Harry. "They have twenty-eight -dogs there. Mr. Hartshorn owns them, but the man that takes care of -them is Tom Poultice. He's an Englishman, and he used to have charge -of kennels in England once. He knows all about collies and greyhounds -and--and every kind of dogs there are." - -"I bet he doesn't know more about setters and pointers than Sam Bumpus -does," said Ernest, loyally. - -"Bet you a hundred dollars he does," said Harry. - -"Bet you a thousand he doesn't." - -The bidding bade fair to be unlimited, and though the millions and -billions and trillions remained to be called upon, Harry desisted. - -"Tell you what I'll do," said he. "I'll take you over there and then -you can see for yourselves." - -Ernest and Jack promptly forgot their controversy with Harry and -accepted his proposal with animation. - -"And can we see all those dogs?" asked Ernest. - -"Sure," said Harry. - -"How many did you say there were?" - -"Twenty-four besides four puppies." - -"Whew!" Jack exclaimed. - -"When can we go?" asked Ernest. - -"Why, this afternoon, if you want to. It's over five miles to -Thornboro, but we can take the 2:10 train and be there in no time. You -come along by my house after dinner and whistle," said Harry. - -"Bully," said Ernest, and Harry turned and walked jauntily out of the -stable with old Mike lumbering at his heels. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE WILLOWDALE KENNELS - - -As Harry Barton had said, it was only a short run on the train to -Thornboro. The three boys disembarked at the station and walked up a -winding, muddy road, for the sun was gathering strength and the snow -had been melting fast. The fields and hillsides lay brown and dry, but -not uninviting. It was a glorious day to be out of doors, especially -upon such a quest. - -They came at length to an entrance in a privet hedge and passed up a -long driveway with maple trees along both sides. At the end of it they -could see a large brick house with white pillars along the front. - -"My, but this is a big place," said Ernest. - -"Sure," said Harry. "Mr. Hartshorn is a rich man. If he wasn't, how do -you s'pose he could keep so many dogs and hire a man just to take care -of them?" - -"What does he do with so many?" inquired Jack, to whom the care of one -small puppy seemed a considerable responsibility. - -"Oh, he shows them," was Harry's somewhat vague explanation. "He takes -prizes with them at dog shows. Some of them are champions. He breeds -them, too, and he sells the puppies he doesn't want to keep. I guess -he makes a good deal of his money that way." - -"What kind of dogs are they?" asked Ernest. - -"Mostly Airedale terriers and white bull terriers," said Harry. "Not -common bull terriers, like Frank Symonds's, but the finest kind, all -white." - -As they neared the house, Harry led them into a path through the -shrubbery which brought them at last around to the rear, where there -was a big stable and garage, a greenhouse, and some other buildings. - -"That long low building is the kennels," said Harry. "The dogs are in -their runs out back, I expect, and prob'ly Tom is out there, too." - -"Why!" exclaimed Jack, "it's just like a house for people." - -The Willowdale kennel house was indeed a more elaborate affair than -the boys had imagined could ever have been built just for dogs. It -made Rome appear very humble in comparison. It was a well-built house, -long and low, with windows all along the front and a door in the -middle. Over this door was an ornamental gable and there was a cupola -at the top. The whole was painted white. - -The boys passed around the end of the building, from behind which -issued the voices of many dogs which they presently saw running -about in yards built of wire fencing. Some of the dogs were smooth and -pure white and some were wiry-coated and a rich black and tan--tan on -the legs and head and black or a very dark grizzle on the neck and -body. They all appeared to be very lively, active dogs, and some of -them seemed rather pugnaciously anxious to get at one another through -the wire fences. - -"There's Tom," announced Harry, and the other boys, following his -pointing finger, observed a man in brown clothes and leather leggings -apparently engaged in mending the fence at the rear of one of the -runs. As they approached he straightened up and came forward to meet -them, with a little smile on his broad face. - -"Well," said he, "'ere we are. An' 'ow's the little man to-day? An' -'ow's the dog Mike?" - -"Pretty well, thank you," said Harry, in a rather more subdued tone -than he had been using toward Jack and Ernest. "These are my friends, -Ernest and Jack Whipple. They want to see your dogs." - -Tom Poultice regarded the newcomers quizzically. "Sure you aren't -afraid o' gettin' bit?" - -"Oh, no, we aren't afraid of dogs," asserted Ernest. - -"Right-o," said Tom. "Come along and I'll show you our new Hairedale, -Bingo's Queen Molly. She's a 'ummer, Molly is." - -He led the way through a wire gate into one of the runs and called the -new dog to him, whereat the dogs in the neighboring runs set up a loud -barking. - -"They're all jealous," said Tom, "but they wouldn't touch 'er. A male -dog scarcely ever attacks a female." - -[Illustration: White English Bull Terrier] - -Molly proved to be a sweet, gentle creature, and allowed the boys to -pat and stroke her hard little head. - -"She's the genooine harticle," said Tom. "See the straight legs of 'er -an' the square muzzle. She'll win something, or I'm no judge." - -"She's a little smaller than some of them, isn't she?" asked Harry. - - -"Yes, but she's just about the right size for showing," said Tom. -"Thirty-seven she weighs. I'm partial to the bigger dogs, myself, but -the judges generally favor a smaller dog if he's got the points. -Molly's certainly got the points." - -Much to the edification of the boys, Tom went on to describe the -standard points of the Airedale, illustrating with several of the -dogs, all of whom seemed to be very fond of the kennelman. Then he -took them in to see the bull terriers. - -"'Ere's a different kind of dog entirely," he said. "As good a fighter -and watchdog as the Hairedale, but not useful in so many ways. It's an -older breed than the Hairedale. I can remember when the bull terrier -was a heavier dog, and brindles were just as good as whites, but now -they want only this kind in the shows, with a long skull and pure -white. Eyes small and shaped like almonds, and set wide apart. That's -the kind. The ears have to be cropped in this country to win prizes. -Beastly custom. They don't do it in Hengland any more. I'm glad they -let the Hairedales' ears alone." - -For some time Tom Poultice discoursed learnedly on these two breeds -and answered numerous questions. - -"What-ho," he exclaimed suddenly. "'Ere's Mr. 'Artshorn coming. Get -'im to tell you about dogs. 'E knows a thing or two 'imself." - -A well-dressed gentleman in a gray overcoat and hat, with a gray -pointed beard, and carrying a cane, appeared around the end of the -kennel house. The boys appeared a little ill at ease. - -"Don't be scared of 'im," said Tom. "'E likes boys." - -"Well, Tom," said Mr. Hartshorn, stopping now and then to poke his -stick through the fence at the dogs that came yelping down their runs -to greet him, "how's Molly?" - -"Mighty fine, sir," said Tom; "mighty fine." - -"Some of your friends?" he inquired, indicating the boys. - -"Yes, sir," said Tom. "This is Harry Barton, sir, from Boytown, and -these--what did you say your names were?" - -"Ernest and Jack Whipple," said Ernest. - -"Ah, yes," said Mr. Hartshorn, just as though he had been reading -about these boys in the paper. "Glad to meet you, I'm sure. Came up to -have a look at the finest dogs in Connecticut, I suppose." - -He had a pleasant, friendly face, and though the boys were a little -awed by his imposing appearance and courtly manner, they soon lost -their shyness and found themselves asking him many questions about -dogs. - -"Come up to the house," said he at length. "I can explain things -better up there, where I have some pictures." - -Tom went back to his work and the boys, bidding him good-by, followed -Mr. Hartshorn up to the big house. He took them into a room that he -said was his den. There was a big desk in it, all littered up with -papers, and well filled bookcases around the room. - -"Are all these books about dogs?" inquired Harry. - -"Well, a good many of them are," said Mr. Hartshorn. "I have about -every book on dogs that has been printed, I expect." - -On the walls above the bookcases were photographs and colored pictures -of dogs and horses in frames, and at one side of the room was a long -leather sofa. Mr. Hartshorn seated himself at his desk and began -rummaging in a drawer full of photographs, while he told the boys to -be seated on the sofa. - -"Now, then," he said when they were all settled, "you were asking me -about the different kinds of terriers, and I guess I've got pictures -of good specimens of about every kind. How many kinds of standard -breeds of terriers do you suppose there are?" - -"About eight, I guess," said Harry, who was a little more forward than -the Whipple boys. - -"Wrong," said Mr. Hartshorn. "There are nearly a hundred recognized -breeds of dogs in this country, all different, and eighteen of these -are terriers. To make them easier to remember, I will divide them into -three classes, smooth-coated, wire-haired, and long-haired. The -smooths are the bull terrier, the Boston, the smooth fox terrier, the -Manchester, and the Doberman pinscher. The wires are the wire-haired -fox terrier, the Airedale, the Bedlington, the Irish, the Welsh, the -Scottish, the West Highland white, the Dandie Dinmont, the cairn, and -the Sealyham. The long-haired ones are the Skye, the Clydesdale, and -the Yorkshire." - -"My!" exclaimed Ernest. "I never heard of some of them before." - -"Lots of people haven't," said Mr. Hartshorn, "but they're all worth -knowing. You can see nearly all of them at a big show like the one -held every year in New York. I'm going to tell you something about -them all, if you'd like to listen." - -"Oh, yes, please do," said Ernest. - -"Well," said Mr. Hartshorn, arranging his photographs, "first let me -explain what a terrier is. Most of them come from England and -Scotland. A few from Wales and Ireland. Terrier means earth dog, and -that's what they were called hundreds of years ago when they were -first used to hunt animals that run into the ground or under stones. -They had to be brave and gamey and not too big, and they became very -active little dogs and mighty efficient. At first, some were -smooth-coated and some wire-coated. Finally, however, Englishmen began -to breed certain favorite kinds, and so the different breeds were -gradually established. - -"One of the oldest kinds is the Manchester or black-and-tan terrier. -He was first bred by the mill hands in the Midland counties of England -where he was famous as a ratter. Here's a picture of one. Handsome -chap, isn't he? Nice, intelligent dog, too. His ears are cropped but -his tail isn't. The white bull terrier is a near relative of the -Manchester. I've already told you about him. - -"Now here's the Boston. I guess you know this kind." - -"Oh, yes," said Ernest. "Theron Hammond has one named Alert." - -"This is an American-made breed," said Mr. Hartshorn, "out of British -raw material. Some Boston fanciers developed it from the brindle bull -terrier about 1890. It's one of the most popular breeds here now. A -smallish dog--sometimes too small, I think--brindle and white. And -here's the smooth fox terrier. You've seen lots of those. Another -small one, not over twenty pounds. He was developed from the old -English working terrier about fifty years ago. - -[Illustration: Airedale Terrier] - -"Now here's one that I don't believe you know. It's a Doberman -pinscher. Funny name. Wonderfully smart dog, though. They call him the -dog with the human brain. He comes from Germany, where he was first a -watchdog and was later trained as a police dog. I believe the first -ones were brought over here in 1907. A muscular dog, weighing forty or -fifty pounds. He is marked like the Manchester but his coat is less -silky. - -"Now we come to the wires. The wire-haired fox terrier is really just -like the smooth, but he looks quite different because of his stiff, -wiry coat. Then there's the Airedale. You know about those. Best -all-round dog in the world in my opinion. This is a Bedlington. You -won't see many of those. Has a head like a lamb, hasn't he? And notice -the silky topknot. He's a good little sporting dog if he does look so -mild. They're mostly blue-gray and tan, and weigh about twenty-four -pounds. - -"Here's the liveliest one of the lot, the Irish terrier. Sometimes -they call him the dare-devil. He's a great little scrapper. He comes -from Ireland, of course. He's a red dog, weighs twenty-four pounds, -and makes one of the best comrades a boy can have. The Welsh terrier -is related to the wire-haired fox, though he looks more like a small -Airedale, being black and tan. He's a little smaller than the -Irishman. - -"Several terriers come from Scotland, and as you can see from these -pictures they're a short-legged, strong-headed, long-bodied lot. -That's because they were bred to go into the ground and the piles of -rocks after badger and such-like game. They had to be pretty tough to -manage it, too. This is the cairn terrier. He used to be called the -Highland terrier, and I guess he's more nearly like the original -terrier of Scotland than any of the others, He came from the -Hebrides Islands. I expect you've never seen one, for they aren't -common in this country. But they're jolly little beggars. They're the -smallest of the lot, weighing only twelve to fifteen pounds, but -mighty hardy and gamey. They are various sandy and grizzled colors and -always have this foxy little head. - -"You may have seen one of these. It's a Scottish terrier, once called -the Aberdeen, and we have a lot of good ones over here now. Some call -him the Scottie or the die-hard. See how wise he looks, with his -bright eyes under his big eyebrows. Notice the big head and short legs -and upright tail. There are some sandy ones, but mostly they're a dark -grizzled gray. They weigh eighteen to twenty pounds. Here's his first -cousin, the West Highland white terrier. He comes from Argyllshire, on -the west coast of Scotland, and he's always pure white. Like most of -the other Scotchmen he has a harsh outer coat and a soft under coat, -which are practically waterproof. He has a more pointed muzzle than -the Scottie and he's smaller." - -At the next picture the boys all laughed. It was such a queer-looking -dog, with such a big head and long body, and a face like that of an -old Scotchman. - -"He's a Dandie Dinmont," said Mr. Hartshorn. "If you ever read 'Guy -Mannering' by Sir Walter Scott, you may remember that he speaks of -Dandie Dinmont's pepper and mustard terriers. The book was published -in 1814, and Dandie Dinmont terriers have been popular in the border -countries of Scotland ever since. The Dandie is related to the -Bedlington. You see he has the same drooping ears and the topknot. -Gray and fawn are the colors. - -"This is the last of the wires. It's a Sealyham. He looks as though he -might be related to the Scotch breeds, with his short legs and strong -head. He was, in fact, bred for badger hunting, as they were, but he -comes from Wales. We have had them in this country only since 1912. -The Sealyham is a mighty lovable little dog. He is white, often with -black or brown markings, and he's about the same size as the West -Highlander. - -"Now we come to the long-coated ones, and the first of them is the -Skye, another of the Scotch breeds. He's a close relative of the -cairn, but he has a long coat and hair over his eyes. He's about the -same size as the West Highlander and he's blue-gray or fawn. They used -to be much more common than they are now. By the way, did you ever -read the story of Greyfriars Bobby?" - -None of the boys had read it. - -"Well, do so the first chance you get. That's on of the loveliest dog -stories ever written, and it's true. Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye -terrier. - -"This is the Clydesdale or Paisley terrier. Not at all a common breed. -I doubt if you'll ever see one in the United States. He looks -something like the Skye, but his coat is silkier. He's steel blue on -the body and head, with golden tan feet. The Yorkshire comes from the -other side of the border, and he's something like the Clydesdale, only -with longer legs and shorter body. He's a fancy dog with a wonderful -coat, parted down the middle and sweeping the ground. He's steel blue -with tan markings on the head, chest, and legs. - -"There you have all the terriers," he concluded, "and I guess you've -had a long enough lesson for one day. These facts are all very -interesting, but they become prosy and confusing if taken in too large -doses. Here, take this book home with you, and look it over at your -leisure. You'll find in it all the things I've told you and a lot more -besides." - -"Terriers are the smartest dogs there are, I guess," said Harry. - -"Well, I don't know as I should want to say quite that," said Mr. -Hartshorn. "Smartness and other qualities are as much a matter of -individuals as of breeds. However, the terriers certainly have won -that reputation." - -"Do you know any good stories about them?" asked Harry, who was -never backward in such matters. Mr. Hartshorn laughed. - -"Unfortunately my memory for stories isn't very good," said he, "but I -have lots of stories in books, and before you boys come up again, I'll -look up some of them. Meanwhile, see if they have a book in the -Boytown Library by Edward Jesse, called 'Anecdotes of Dogs.' It was -published in London in 1858, and it isn't very common, but if you can -find a copy, it's a dandy. It contains most of the historic dog -stories. It includes several stories about terriers, chiefly -illustrating their intelligence, but also their devotion. Many of -them, I recall, are stories of dogs that found their way home over -unknown roads after being carried away for long distances. This homing -instinct seems to be very strong in the terrier. The breed has always -been a very close and intimate companion of man, and that has -sharpened his wits and deepened his sympathies. - -"The only terrier story that I recall at the moment is a little -anecdote that illustrates the terrier's shrewdness rather than his -uprightness of character. A lady music teacher was going to the home -of one of her pupils one day when some sort of wire-haired terrier -surprised and startled her by running out from a field and seizing her -skirt in his teeth. She tried to drive him away, but he wouldn't go. -Becoming somewhat alarmed by his actions, she called to two laborers -who were working in the field, and they came to her assistance. - -"'He wants you to go with him, ma'am," one of the men said. 'I've -heard of dogs actin' like that. Maybe it's a murder or something. I -guess we'd better go along.' - -"They followed the dog to the rear of a cottage, and he at once began -to dig feverishly at a heavy plank. The workmen, half expecting to -find a corpse, lifted the plank, only to disclose a large beef bone. -This the terrier at once appropriated and made off with it, without -waiting to express his thanks for assistance." - -The boys laughed over this story, and thanked Mr. Hartshorn warmly for -the interesting things he had told them. Then, squabbling -good-naturedly over the possession of the dog book, they hurried off -to catch the late afternoon train back to Boytown. - -It was not long before they had another lesson in dog lore, though -this time it was not Mr. Hartshorn who was their teacher. The next -Saturday the three of them made another trip to Thornboro to return -the book, in the fascinating contents of which they had been reveling -for a week. They met Tom Poultice on the road with half a dozen of the -dogs out for exercise. They were a lively lot, and it took about all -of Tom's attention to keep them in hand. - -"Mr. 'Artshorn isn't 'ome to-day," said Tom. "You come along with me -and the dogs and I'll show you some fun. You can leave the book up at -the 'ouse when we get back." - -The boys accepted this as a rare privilege, and for an hour or two -accompanied Tom and his troublesome pack about the country roads. The -bull terriers were fairly well behaved, but the Airedales seemed bent -upon getting into all kinds of mischief. On two occasions Tom had his -hands full breaking up what promised to become a free-for-all fight. -But the boys could not help admiring the boundless vigor of these dogs -who seemed hardly able to contain all the youth and joy and life -within them. It made the boys want to run and romp and caper in -sympathy. - -As they entered the drive at Willowdale on their return, they saw a -sweet-faced woman standing on the porch with a little woolly white dog -beside her. - -"That's Mrs. 'Artshorn," said Tom. "You can give the book to 'er. -She'd like you to stop and speak to 'er." - -Somewhat shyly the boys followed his advice, but Mrs. Hartshorn, like -her husband, seemed to have the faculty of making them soon feel at -their ease. She at once introduced them to Daisy, her toy white -poodle. Daisy's long hair had been trimmed and clipped in a -ridiculous manner that made the boys laugh, but she soon proved -herself to be as smart as a whip. Mrs. Hartshorn put her through all -her pretty tricks. - -"I suppose, after seeing all those Airedales and bull terriers, you -won't think much of my little dogs," said Mrs. Hartshorn. "Tom -Poultice is very scornful about toys. But a dog is a dog, no matter -how little. I want you to come in and see my prize Pomeranian, Tip." - -They followed her into the house and up a broad staircase. At the top -she turned and said: - -"I think Tip is in the nursery with the baby. Don't be startled if he -tries to eat you up. You needn't be quiet, because it's about time for -baby's nap to be over." - -She ushered them into the nursery, a pretty pink and white room, and -there lay a handsome, chocolate-colored little dog on a mat beside a -white crib. At the sight of strangers Tip growled a little and showed -his white teeth. - -"Don't you want to take a look at the baby?" asked Mrs. Hartshorn, -with a twinkle in her eyes. - -Harry Barton stepped bravely forward, but was met by an attack so -savage that he hastily retired. Tip did not bark; barking was not -permitted in the nursery. But he defended his charge with a ferocity -quite out of proportion to his diminutive size. - -"Lie down, Tip," said Mrs. Hartshorn, laughing. "It's all right." And -Tip retired, grumbling, to his rug. - -[Illustration: Pomeranian] - -"He's little, but, oh, my!" said Mrs. Hartshorn. "I don't believe one -of you would dare to touch that baby with Tip anywhere around. Now -isn't he a dog, after all?" - -The boys admitted quite readily that he was. - -"He chased a tramp away once," said she. "The tramp came to the -front door when Mr. Hartshorn was away, and spoke so roughly to my -maid that I was really quite frightened. Tip heard him and came out -like a flash. The man swore and kicked at him. Nothing makes a dog so -angry as kicking at him, and Tip jumped and nipped the man's finger. -He swore again, but Tip renewed his attack to such good purpose that -the man backed away and finally retreated in disorder with Tip at his -heels. I've known big dogs that couldn't do so much." - -The boys looked upon Tip with new respect. - -"Now come and see my Pekes," said Mrs. Hartshorn. - -The boys followed her into another room where two Pekingese spaniels -got lazily out of a basket and came forward to greet her. And for the -next few minutes the boys found infinite amusement playing with the -fluffy little pets. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -ANXIOUS DAYS - - -It was April before the three boys had an opportunity to accept Mrs. -Hartshorn's invitation to visit her at Willowdale. On this occasion, -as on the last, Mr. Hartshorn was away from home and there were only -the four of them at luncheon. A soft-footed maid in a white cap and -apron filled their plates with creamed chicken on toast, followed by -delicious hot waffles and maple syrup. - -When luncheon was over, she led them into her husband's den and took -down one of his books. - -"I suppose you've been about filled up with dog talk," said she, "but -I want to be sure that you're converted to a love for the toys. So -many men and boys don't care for them, but when you come to know about -them, they're just as interesting as any other dogs. That is, most of -them are. There are some kinds that I confess I don't especially care -for myself. Come sit on the sofa and look at this book with me." - -When they were comfortably seated, she began turning over the pages of -the book, pointing out pictures of the various toy breeds. - -"We'll take the short-coated ones first," said she, "since that's the -way they're arranged in the book. Now can you imagine anything more -delicate and graceful than this little dog? It's the Italian -greyhound, you see. Some of the toy breeds have been created by a -dwarfing process by modern fanciers, but this little chap was known in -Italy in the Middle Ages. You can see dogs something like him on Greek -and Roman statuary. - -"Now here's the good old pug. You know the pug, don't you? There -aren't so very many of them about now, though. They used to be the -favorite lap-dogs, but somehow the Poms and the Pekes have come in to -take their place. It is a very old breed and its ancestors were -probably brought from China by the Dutch who later introduced it into -England. Fawn used to be the popular color, but black has been in -favor for several years. - -"Now these are what we call miniatures, because they are merely dwarfs -of larger breeds. The toy Manchester or black-and-tan was bred from -the large Manchester terrier and should look just like his big -brother, only he should weigh less than seven pounds. Same way with -the toy bull terrier. The miniature bulldog was developed sixty years -or more ago by the lace workers of Nottingham, England." - -The boys were much interested in the next picture, which showed the -tiniest sort of a dog sitting in a glass tumbler. - -"Why," said Jack, "he looks more like a rat than a dog." - -"It's a real dog, nevertheless," said Mrs. Hartshorn, "though probably -the smallest breed in the world. It's a Chihuahua, pronounced -Che-wa-wa, and it comes from Mexico. They weigh from a pound and a -half to about four pounds, about as much as a kitten. Of course, -they're rather delicate, and I doubt if you could expect one to attack -a tramp. The head is round as an apple, with pointed nose and big, -outstanding ears. The Chihuahua always has a little soft spot in the -top of the skull. - -"Now we come to the long-haired toys, which are the most popular at -the present time. I believe the Pomeranian is the most popular of them -all. He is really a small spitz and came first from Germany. You -noticed Tip's compact little body, fox-like head, and alert -expression. A wonderful little dog. His chief glory is his fine, -fluffy coat and mane. - -"Then there are the English toy spaniels. They used to be all called -King Charles spaniels and were named after Charles II of England, who -was very fond of them. Now the authorities have divided them into four -varieties according to color, though they are all the same breed. The -Blenheim is red or orange and white, the ruby is chestnut red, the -King Charles is black and tan, and the Prince Charles is -tri-color--black, white, and tan. - -[Illustration: Pekingese] - -"The Pekingese is another of the very popular ones. A brave, proud -little chap, as he should be, for he was the pet of Chinese emperors -for hundreds of years. The first ones were brought to England in 1860 -when the Europeans took the city of Peking and sacked the royal -palaces. Before that time they had been carefully guarded as sacred -animals. You see they look somewhat different from the English toy -spaniel. The head is flatter, for one thing. - -"The Japanese spaniel is still different, though he is probably -related to the Peke. He has been the pet of the Japs for centuries. -The colors are black and white or red and white, and the weight is -seven pounds, more or less. This snowy white one, with his bright -little face, is a Maltese dog. He also has an ancient lineage. He was -known in ancient Greece and Rome and has been in England since the -time of Henry VIII. You saw my toy poodle. It's just a miniature of -the big poodle and has been popular in France and England for over a -century. Very popular here now, too. - -"Now we come to the last of the more prominent breeds of toys, and the -only one with a wire coat. He comes from Belgium and he's called the -Brussels griffon. Don't you love his little monkey face, with its -beard and mustache? He's a hardy, intelligent, affectionate little -dog, too. Some folks think he's the smartest of all the toys. - -"There," she concluded, passing them the book to look over again, "I -guess you've had enough for one day. You'll begin to think I'm as bad -as my husband. But I didn't want you to get the idea that the only -real dog is a big dog. Don't you think that some of these toy breeds -deserve some respect, now that you know something of their honorable -history?" - -"Well, I should say so," said Ernest. "I had no idea there were so -many different kinds or that they had any special history. I want to -see those Pekes again, whose grandfathers were stolen from the -Chinese emperors." - -The interest in toys had been kindled, and the boys took occasion -later to refresh their memories from books that Mr. Hartshorn lent -them, but when Ernest and Jack reached home that afternoon the toy -breeds were swept entirely out of their minds for the time being. For -Romulus appeared to be ailing and Remus was evidently quite sick. - -The two setter puppies had been growing rapidly and had been allowed -to run out in the yard as the April days grew warmer. They had lost -some of their puppy awkwardness though none of their puppy -playfulness, and were fast developing into strong-boned, active dogs. -They had begun to appear more devoted to their young masters, too, and -to understand better the meaning of the words they were expected to -obey. Needless to say, the boys had become deeply attached to them. - -There is nothing more pitiful to look at than a sick dog, and there -was something very sad in the way these two rollicking, healthy -puppies were so suddenly stricken down. The boys, not finding them in -the yard, had gone at once to Rome. There lay Remus on the bed, -breathing with difficulty, and recognizing their approach only by a -raising of his brows and a pathetic little effort to wag his tail. -Romulus came to greet them a little weakly, but he, too, looked very -forlorn and somehow very thin and little. Both dogs seemed to be -running from the eyes and nose and to be suffering from feverish -colds. - -"Oh, Ernest," cried Jack, the tears coming to his eyes at the sight of -their suffering, "they're sick. Whatever shall we do?" - -"I don't know," said Ernest. "I don't know what you do for a sick dog. -We will ask father. He'll be home soon." - -Mr. Whipple came out to look at the dogs soon after his return, but he -was unable to suggest anything very helpful. He prescribed warm milk -for dinner, and the puppies both drank it, though without much -enthusiasm. That night the boys spread burlap blankets over the dogs -and went to bed with heavy hearts. - -The next morning and the morning after Romulus and Remus did not seem -to be any better, nor, luckily, very much worse. The boys did what -they could for them, keeping them warm and feeding them beef soup and -warm milk, but they did not seem to be making much progress with the -cure. So on Monday Ernest sent another postal card to Sam Bumpus, -begging him to come down and look at the dogs. They had infinite -confidence in Sam. - -He did not fail them, and on Tuesday afternoon after the boys had -come home from school Sam appeared. By this time both dogs were pretty -sick. They had lost flesh and looked pitifully thin and weak and wan. -They seemed to have trouble breathing and to be affected by other -complications. They looked up at their young masters with big, -pathetic eyes, as though pleading for help in their affliction. - -The boys watched Sam anxiously as he examined the dogs. His face was -grave. - -"It's distemper," said he. "I was afraid it was. Distemper's no joke; -it's the dog's worst enemy. Sometimes it runs into pneumonia, or the -dogs die in fits, or just waste away and give up. But cheer up; I've -seen lots of 'em pull through, and we'll try to save these two. You've -done the right thing so far. Careful nursin' does it. Keep 'em dry and -out of draughts and keep up their strength with good food, easy to -digest. Most dogs that die of distemper die because they didn't have -strength enough to last 'em through. The disease has to have its run, -and in time it just naturally runs out. That's the way I look at it. -It don't do much good to try to cure 'em with medicine. As I say, it's -the nursin' does the trick. Still, some folks believe in givin' -quinine and you can do that if you want to. It's a tonic and it can't -do any harm if you don't give too much. And keep their eyes and noses -washed out with boracic acid." - -"Is this place all right for them?" asked Ernest. - -"Sure," said Sam. "It's a good place, now that the weather is mild. -The more fresh air the better, so long as it ain't damp or too cold or -draughty. You keep fussin' over 'em and let me know how they get -along. Give 'em plenty of clean water and feed 'em a good deal of milk -porridge several times a day. Better cut out the solid food till -they're better." - -For nearly two weeks the boys watched the progress of the disease with -aching hearts. Sometimes the symptoms seemed less acute and they felt -hopeful; then again the condition of their patients was such as to -frighten them. They spent all their spare time with the puppies, in -spite of their mother's anxiety lest they catch the disease -themselves. Their father, however, was quite positive that human -beings could not take distemper from dogs. - -A deep cloud of anxiety hung over the Whipple home during those days, -even Mrs. Whipple feeling the effects of it. There was no running and -romping about the house; no longer the rooms echoed with boyish shouts -and laughter. Each morning Ernest and Jack awoke with a feeling that -something awful was impending. It seemed sometimes as though the dogs -had always been sick and that they would never get well. Sometimes the -tension would become too great for Jack and he would cry as though -his heart would break. - -"Oh, Ernest," he would sob, "what should I do if Remus died?" - -And Ernest would have to struggle hard to keep from joining in the -tears of his younger brother. The boys had come to love their dogs, -and it seemed as though the puppies looked to them alone to save them. -It is that way with dogs and people--that is, the people who care for -dogs. And when once the wonderful tie has been formed between boy and -dog it grows ever stronger. It becomes an ennobling thing. - -Romulus developed a distressing cough, but after about ten days of -suffering he began to show signs of improvement. He ate with greater -relish and seemed brighter and stronger. Gradually the symptoms of the -disease lessened and as the days went by Ernest became more and more -happily convinced that he was really getting well. But with poor Remus -it was different. The distemper seemed unwilling to relax its hold on -him and his digestive system became so disordered that he could not -gain the much needed strength from his food. Jack spent all the time -he could beside the little sufferer, easing his head and bathing his -eyes and nose, and listening with helpless agony to the labored -breathing. - -Suddenly, one afternoon, Remus struggled to his feet and staggered -uncertainly for a few steps. His half-closed eyes were glassy and did -not seem to see what he was looking at. He lurched into the wall in a -way that made Romulus take to a corner in fear. Then he ran a few -steps aimlessly and toppled over, his muscles twitching dreadfully and -his feet scratching the floor. - -Jack was terribly frightened and called to Ernest, who came running -in. Both boys thought that Remus was surely dying, but after a while -he grew quieter and Jack lifted him tenderly back upon the bed. - -"I guess it was a fit," said Ernest. "Sam told about that, you know." - -"Oh, what shall we do?" wailed Jack in despair. "We _must_ do -something, Ernest." - -Ernest thought for a moment, and then an idea came to him. - -"I'll telephone Mr. Hartshorn," said he. "He might know what to do, -and I don't believe he'd mind. He wouldn't want a dog to die." - -"Oh, please do," begged Jack. - -Mr. Hartshorn was not home, but Mrs. Hartshorn, who answered the -telephone, was very sympathetic. - -"I'm so sorry he's had convulsions," said she. "It's a bad sign. I'm -sorry Mr. Hartshorn is away. I know just how it is, though, for I've -sat up all night with dogs sick like that, more than once. I'll send -Tom Poultice right over. He's a better dog doctor in his way than a -good many vets., and he may be able to help you." - -Ernest thanked the kind lady very heartily, and Tom Poultice came that -very evening. Mr. Whipple lighted a lantern and they all went out to -Rome. Tom examined both dogs and pronounced Romulus to be on the mend. - -"'E'll be all right," said Tom, "if 'e don't take cold or get upset. -But this other one, 'e's in a bad way, I'm afraid." - -Then he took Remus up, looked into his eyes and throat, and felt of -his stomach and of the pulse under his forelegs. - -"'E's got to be straightened out first," said he. "'Ave you any castor -oil?" - -Tom administered the castor oil in a thoroughly efficient manner and -then sent Ernest into the house to beg a little hot tea and a raw egg -from Delia. The puppy took the tea quite eagerly and lapped some of -the egg. - -"Give 'im a little of this as often as 'e'll take it," said Tom, "and -telephone me to-morrow 'ow 'e seems. If 'e gets stronger, we'll give -'im something else. If the castor oil don't work, we'll 'ave to give -'im calomel or a compound cathartic pill, though I 'ate to do that -if I don't 'ave to. Calomel's terrible strong stuff for a sick puppy. -'Ow long 'as 'e been sick?" - -"About two weeks," said Jack. - -"That's about the course of it," said Tom. "If 'e ain't better in a -day or two now, 'e'll be gone. I wish I'd tackled 'im before. Well, -give 'im these pills, one to-night and three to-morrow, during the -day, and keep me posted." - -"What are these pills composed of?" inquired Mr. Whipple, who was -taking a lively interest in proceedings. - -"I 'ave 'em made up myself, sir," said Tom. "It's an old receipt I -learned in Hengland. I ain't much on medicine myself, but sometimes -this 'elps, especially if it's used earlier. There's thirty drops of -acetate of ammonia in each pill, fifteen drops of sweet spirits of -nitre, and two grains of salicylate of soda. It's better to give 'em -in a little camphor water." - -The boys followed Tom's directions faithfully. In the morning they -found Remus lying against the door of Rome, quite exhausted, and there -were signs that he had had another convulsion during the night. But -during the day the castor oil got in its effect and there was no need -for the calomel. Remus seemed more able and willing to take his tea -and egg, and though no gain in strength was to be noted that day, he -had no more convulsions. - -Recovery was slow but sure for Remus from that time on, while Romulus -mended rapidly, and it was not long before he was running about the -yard again. Remus gained strength very slowly and for a long time was -troubled by a cough and upset digestion, but as the days went by and -he suffered no serious relapse Jack's buoyant nature responded and he -was glad with hope once more. Tom Poultice came again to offer -encouragement and advice, and when Sam Bumpus visited Rome unannounced -one afternoon and was told what had happened, he proved himself to be -most generous in his praise of Tom's skill. - -"I don't know this English feller," said he, "but when it comes to -doctorin' sick pups, I've got to hand it to him. When you see him -again give him old Sam's best regards and tell him I'll vote for him -next election whether he's runnin' or not." - -Sam was in a jovial mood and the boys were in the humor to laugh -heartily at anything he said. The tension was broken, the days of -anxiety were past, and sunshine again filled the house on Washburn -Street. - -"It's just like a toothache when it's over, ain't it?" said Sam. - -As for Jack, he hugged the emaciated little Remus close to his -breast, and, with big tears of happiness in his eyes, kissed the -tousled little head. Remus gave a little, human-sounding whimper and -licked Jack's hand. That was the only way he knew to express his love -and gratitude, but Jack understood. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -SOME OTHER DOGS, INCLUDING RAGS - - -It was sympathy for Jack Whipple and interest in the sickness and -recovery of Remus that resulted in the formation of a sort of -freemasonry of dog lovers among the boys of Boy town. It had always -been known that some of the boys had dogs, and there had been a good -deal of fun with these dogs at different times in the past. But -hitherto the dogs had been, in a way, taken for granted, and had lived -in a sort of background in the boy life of the town. Suddenly they -came to light as important members of the community, and each dog had -its boy champion. - -While Romulus and Remus were sick, the Whipple boys often had to -answer inquiries as to their progress, but Ernest and Jack had been so -wrapped up in their own worries that they did not realize the -widespread sympathy that had sprung up. They did not know that a dozen -other boys each loved a dog much as they loved Romulus and Remus and -could understand what it must mean to watch at the bedside of a -seriously sick puppy. - -But when Romulus was well on the road to perfect health again and -Remus was slowly convalescing, the other boy dog lovers of the town -began to drop around, sometimes with offerings to be appreciated by -dogs, just as neighbors bring in jellies and fruit when a person is -recovering from a long illness. Then Ernest and Jack began to realize -how many friends they had in Boytown and that they all had a precious -possession in common. - -Harry Barton came first, with Mike. His manner was subdued and he did -not brag. He stepped softly as one would in entering a sick room, and -he patted Remus's little head very gently and called him "poor little -muttsie." Then came Theron Hammond, though he left his Boston terrier -at home because Alert had never had distemper and might catch it. He -and the Whipple boys sat for a long time in the stable doorway and -speculated about the knowingness of dogs. Monty Hubbard came, too. He -left his Irish terrier, Mr. O'Brien, at home because of said Mr. -O'Brien's well-known proclivity to fight with anything in the shape of -a dog, though Monty was sure he wouldn't hurt two sick puppies. But -Herbie Pierson honored Rome by bringing his huge, brindled Great Dane, -Hamlet, who regarded the setters with fatherly indulgence and then -walked off in his stately manner and crouched like a noble statue -beside the front gate. - -And last of all came Rags and Jimmie Rogers, of whom I will presently -tell you more. - -[Illustration: Great Dane] - -Boytown had always been a great place for dogs. Not only the -aristocrats of dogdom, living comfortably in homes with loving masters -and mistresses, but all sorts of nondescript dogs, many of whom seemed -to be masterless and homeless, though not invariably unhappy. In fact, -there were many good citizens of Boytown who did not like dogs and who -felt that the canine population of the place was altogether too -large. - -There were restrictive laws that ought to have reduced this canine -population to such dogs as were properly owned and licensed, but the -government of Boytown was criticized as being a happy-go-lucky affair -a good deal of the time, and it was only when complaints became -sufficiently numerous and serious that the town fathers took steps to -enforce the laws and abolish what was conceded to be a public -nuisance. Then a dog catcher was hired, warnings were posted, and the -stray dogs were gathered up and mysteriously disposed of. It was -rather a cruel and heart-rending business, if you stopped to think of -it, and it would not have been necessary if the authorities had been -more uniformly strict in observing the statutes and ordinances, but -that was their way. - -It was during one of the periods of laxity that a wire-haired terrier -appeared from no one knew where. He was not an authentic -representative of any of the established breeds; it was quite evident -that he had just happened somehow. But he was conspicuous among his -miscellaneous black and white and brown and brindled brethren by -reason of his superior alertness and intelligence and his -never-failing good humor and high spirits. His tramp life had in no -way damaged his disposition; he seemed to have been born full of the -joy of life. He was about the size of one of Mr. Hartshorn's smaller -Airedales and in the main he was not badly formed. But his tail, which -had never been docked, hung at a rakish angle to one side and one ear -was set higher than the other. His eyes were extraordinarily bright -and his wiry coat was a grizzled black, always tousled and generally -dirty. - -The boys were not long in making this stranger's acquaintance. Indeed, -he made the first advances, joining in their sport one day when they -were in swimming in the pond over by the brickyard, and mingling his -joyous barks with the shrieks of laughter which his antics provoked. -He would pick them up on their way to school, or anywhere, and make -himself generally companionable, and it was not long before they -discovered him to be most precocious in the learning of tricks. - -It was not in the nature of things that such a dog should remain -forever masterless, but the periodical cleaning up of the dog catcher -had begun before anyone had had time to think of him as anything but -everybody's dog. It was Jimmie Rogers who saw him seized and thrust -unceremoniously into the dog catcher's covered wagon, and it was -Jimmie who set out alone to achieve his rescue. Jimmie's people lived -on Sharon Street and were not well to do, but somehow Jimmie managed -to scrape together the five dollars which he found must be paid -before he could establish his claim to ownership. - -After that, by common consent, he became Jimmie Rogers's dog. He had -already won the name of Rags. - -So Jimmie brought his beloved Rags to visit the invalids, and Romulus -and Remus looked on with big-eyed amazement while Rags was made to sit -up, shake hands, roll over, chase his tail, play dead, and sing. - -But there was one boy with a dog who did not come to visit the sick, -and Ernest and Jack Whipple were not sorry. They did not like Dick -Wheaton, and Dick, it was easy to believe, was not one to care whether -another boy's dog died or not. He was a good deal of a bully at -school, and Jack feared and avoided him. As for the older boys, they -found him generally unamiable and those of them who knew the love of -dogs were angry with Dick for the way he treated poor little Gyp. - -Gyp was a smooth-coated fox terrier and a very good specimen of his -breed. He was smart and gamey, but his spirit had nearly been broken -by his tyrannical master. Dick seemed unable to resist the temptation -to bully everything smaller and weaker than himself, and when there -were no small boys or little girls within his reach he indulged his -proclivities by teasing his dog. - -Gyp, who had never had any other master, did not think of resenting -this. He merely endured it as best he might. In fact, there was no -more obedient dog in Boytown. It was pitiful to see the way in which -he would answer his master's lightest word, as though he lived -constantly in the hope of winning favor by his promptness. - -Boys often like to tease animals, but they are seldom actually cruel, -at least not knowingly so. And when a boy becomes possessed of a dog -or a pony of his own, his attitude often undergoes a marked change. -But no relenting took place in Dick Wheaton's nature, and the other -boys who had learned the lesson of kindness, recognizing his right to -do as he chose with his own, could only look on with growing -disapproval and dislike. - -But all the other dog-owning boys of the town found their friendships -growing closer in the warmth of this common interest. During the -convalescence of Remus they made Rome a sort of lodge room for the -meetings of a new association with an unwritten constitution and no -by-laws. They talked much of dogs and it was not long before a number -of them were keenly desirous of visiting Willowdale and making the -acquaintance of dog-wise Tom Poultice, the rich Mr. Hartshorn, and all -the Airedales and white bull terriers. - -So Harry Barton made the arrangements and one Saturday in May an -expedition was formed to walk to Thornboro and visit Willowdale. There -were seven boys in the company and three dogs--Mike, Alert, and Rags. -Romulus and Remus were not yet strong enough to make such a trip and -it was voted that these three could be counted upon to behave -themselves properly. There was a little doubt about Rags, but he was a -general favorite and was always given the benefit of any doubt. At the -last moment Herbie Pierson and Hamlet joined the excursion. - -To these active boys and their dogs the way did not seem too long. In -fact, Rags, full of joyful exuberance at this rare treat, dashed about -on all sorts of secondary adventures, running three miles to every one -traversed. Even sturdy little Alert, in spite of his short legs, took -it all as a lark and did not think to be weary until he reached home -that afternoon and fell sound asleep on his front door mat. - -The arrival of the four canine strangers at Willowdale created a good -deal of commotion in the fenced-in runs, and Rags nearly went crazy -with the excitement. But Tom Poultice took it all good-naturedly, and -when he had got things quieted down a little he took the boys through -the kennels and introduced them to the prize dogs. - -They were all so absorbed in this pleasant occupation that it was -noon before they knew it, and Mrs. Hartshorn came out to invite them -all up to the porch for a luncheon. As they were following her up to -the house she asked questions about their four dogs, and appeared to -take a great interest in Alert especially. - -"He's really a very fine little dog," she said. "But who is this?" -Rags had come up and thrust his cold nose ingratiatingly into her -hand. - -"Oh, that's Rags," they said, and interrupted each other with -explanations. Mrs. Hartshorn laughed. - -"Well, I would hardly know what to call him," she said, "but he is -evidently a very popular person. But what's the matter with his back?" - -"Oh, it just itches," said Jimmie. - -There was a spot on Rags's back that was difficult for him to reach, -and it gave him a good deal of trouble, but he had managed to bite a -good deal of the hair out of it. Beneath, Mrs. Hartshorn discovered -the skin to be in a scabby and unhealthy condition. - -"Well," said she, "this shouldn't be neglected. It may be mange, and -that's serious. Let's have Tom look at it." - -Tom came up at her bidding and examined Rags's back. - -"Do you think it's mange, Tom?" asked Mrs. Hartshorn. - -"I don't think so," said he. "It looks like heczema, like the -Hairedales had last summer. 'E better 'ave some of that medicine, I -fancy." - -"All right," said Mrs. Hartshorn, "I still have some at the house, I -think, that I got in case my dogs should need it. Eczema," she -explained to the boys, "isn't exactly a skin disease. It is caused by -the dog's general condition, and should be treated internally, though -if you will rub zinc ointment on that spot it will heal more rapidly. -The cure is first a good dose of sulphur and cream of tartar; you can -get that in tablet form at the drug store. Then give him the pills I -am going to get for you. They are a tonic and ought to fix him up all -right." - -"Only be sure not to feed him any corn meal," warned Tom. - -"That's so," said Mrs. Hartshorn, "especially now that warm weather is -coming." - -Before the boys left that afternoon she gave Jimmie half a dozen soft -pills and also a prescription for more. It read, "Sulphate of quinine, -1 grain; sulphate of iron, 2 grains; extract of hyoscyamus, 1 grain; -with enough extract of taraxacum and glycerine to make a pill." It -might be added that Jimmie used this medicine faithfully and the sore, -itching spot at length disappeared from Rags's back. - -Meanwhile the boys had arranged themselves expectantly on the front -porch and the maid presently appeared with plates, napkins, -sandwiches, crullers, and lemonade. Mrs. Hartshorn was a charming -hostess and the boys waxed merry over their luncheon. Great piles of -sandwiches disappeared as if by magic, and then there was chocolate -ice cream and sponge cake. The dogs lay eying their masters enviously, -all except the incorrigible Rags. He sat up and begged constantly, and -even Mrs. Hartshorn could not resist the temptation to toss him a -morsel now and then, which he caught with great deftness. - -Just as they were finishing, Mr. Hartshorn drove up in his car. - -"What have we here?" he cried. "An orphan asylum or a dog show?" - -He got out of his car and ascended the steps, demanding his share of -the luncheon. Those of the boys who had not already met him were -introduced. Then he asked to be made acquainted with the dogs. - -"What do you think of them?" asked Herbie Pierson, who was very proud -of his imposing Great Dane. - -"I'll tell you after I've partaken of a little nourishment," said Mr. -Hartshorn. "You can't expect a man to talk learnedly on an empty -stomach, can you?" - -He proceeded to do ample justice to his share of the sandwiches and -ice cream, while a jolly conversation was kept up, even the shyer boys -entering in at last. - -"Now," said Mr. Hartshorn, as he finished his last spoonful, "let's -have a look at that Great Dane." - -He stepped down from the porch and approached Hamlet, who submitted to -his caress with dignity. Then Mr. Hartshorn did strange things to him -which brought a look of amazement into his eyes. He pulled back the -dog's hind feet and made him stand straight, measured his head with -his hands, pulled down his lips, and thumped his ribs. - -"A pretty good dog," said Mr. Hartshorn. "A trifle off in the -shoulders, perhaps, and a bit cow-hocked, but he has a good head. Ever -show him?" - -"No, sir," said Herbie. - -"Well, you ought to. We'll see about that some time." - -"Won't you tell us something about Great Danes and other dogs, Mr. -Hartshorn?" asked Harry Barton. "Things like you told us about the -terriers the other day." - -"Why," said he, "I thought I must have given you such a dose of it the -other time that you would want to run away from any more." - -"Oh, no, sir," said Ernest Whipple. "We thought it was very -interesting. We've talked it over a lot since, and we want to know -about all the other kinds of dogs, too. All the boys do." - -"Well," said Mr. Hartshorn, "you never can tell what a boy will like, -I guess. If you had to learn all that in school, I'll bet you'd hate -it. But I don't want to overdo it. I'll tell you about just a few this -time." - -The boys crowded around him expectantly as he sat down again on the -porch. - -"The Great Dane," he began, "though once a hunting dog, a boarhound, -is now classed among the non-sporting breeds, and I'll tell you -something about those. They include the very biggest dogs--the -mastiff, the St. Bernard, the Newfoundland, and the Great Dane. The -smaller ones are the English bulldog, the French bulldog, the chow -chow, the poodle, the Dalmatian, and the schipperke. The collies and -other sheepdogs are also classed with the non-sporting breeds, but -I'll save those for another time. Let me get a book or two, so that -I'll be sure to get my information correct. - -"Now then," he continued, when he had returned with his books, "I'll -outline a few facts about each of these breeds, but in order to avoid -sounding like a walking catalogue, I am going to omit a good many -things like color, size, and weight. These things are very important -in distinguishing the breeds, but they aren't very easy to carry in -your heads, and you can find them all set down in the dog books. I -shall try to tell you only the interesting, picturesque things about -each breed's history and character, and you can find all the rest in -the books. - -"Let's begin with the St. Bernard. He's the biggest of all. Who knows -anything about the St. Bernard?" - -"There's a piece in the Fourth Reader about them," ventured Theron -Hammond. "They used to guide travelers in the Alps and rescue them -when they were lost in the snow." - -"And there was one named Barry," put in Harry Barton, "who saved the -lives of forty people, and they set up a monument of him in Paris." - -"Correct," said Mr. Hartshorn. "There's no breed more famed in song -and story than the St. Bernard. It was developed long ago by the monks -of the Hospice of St. Bernard in Switzerland, who trained their dogs -for the purposes you have mentioned. So many of them were lost, -however, that the breed got into a bad way a hundred years ago and had -to be brought back by crossing with the Newfoundland and other breeds. -As I said, it is one of the largest breeds, sometimes weighing as much -as two hundred pounds--more than most men." - -"Are there some good St. Bernard stories?" asked Jack Whipple, who -preferred anecdotes to descriptive particulars. - -"A lot of them," said Mr. Hartshorn, "but there seems to be a good -deal of sameness about them. They tell of the saving of Alpine -travelers and shepherds, lost in snowstorms or caught in crevasses in -glaciers. Some of them are very thrilling. The best story I ever read -about a St. Bernard, however, had nothing to do with mountaineering. - -"This dog was the beloved friend and constant companion of the Count -of Monte Veccios, a Venetian nobleman. Now it became very necessary to -the Count that he should obtain certain favors from General Morosini, -who was somewhat difficult of approach, in spite of the fact that he -was in much the same position himself. In order to gain his own ends, -the General had arranged in his palace a gorgeous banquet in honor of -the Doge of Venice, from whom he hoped to gain important concessions, -and he had caused his great banquet table to be laden with gold and -silver plate and much fine Venetian glass. - -"The Count, hearing of these preparations, screwed up his courage and -called on General Morosini. He praised to the skies the table -appointments, which pleased the General, but as soon as he began to -plead his own cause, the General became cold and unyielding and -begged the Count to cease annoying him about these petty matters. As -the Count left the General's palace, he turned to his faithful dog, -with tears in his eyes, and said, 'You see, my friend, how badly I am -used.' - -"The St. Bernard was greatly affected by this, and he formed in his -own mind a plan of revenge, since it was beyond his powers to secure -justice. Unobserved, he stole back into the General's palace, and just -as the Doge was arriving with his retinue, the dog seized the corner -of the tablecloth in his mouth and dashed out of the house, upsetting -the entire banquet and smashing most of the valuable glassware. I -don't believe there is any moral to that story, but perhaps that won't -spoil it for you. - -"I don't believe I have any mastiff stories," continued Mr. Hartshorn, -"but that breed must be mentioned in passing, as it is one of the very -old and very famous breeds of England. The mastiff used to be popular -here thirty years ago, but we seldom see any now, and sometimes I fear -the breed is dying out. It's too bad, for he was a fine, powerful dog, -brave and wise. - -"Another fine dog that has gone out of fashion is the Newfoundland. -There are still some good ones in England, but very few here. I -suppose the Newfoundland has more rescues of drowning persons to his -credit than any other breed, and it's a shame to see him go. The breed -originated on the island of Newfoundland a hundred years ago, and you -will still see a dog's head on the Newfoundland postage stamps. - -"The Newfoundland has a waterproof coat and is a wonderful swimmer, so -that a good many of the anecdotes told about dogs of this breed have -to do with their exploits in the water. For example, there is one of a -man who fell off a narrow foot-bridge into a swift mill stream. The -miller's dog promptly dived in and rescued him, and having -accomplished this, coolly plunged in again to save the man's hat that -was just about to be swept over the dam. There are several amusing -stories told of Newfoundlands dragging bathers to shore, quite against -their wills, because the dogs fancied they were in danger. - -"A naval lieutenant owned a canary bird and a Newfoundland dog. While -they were cruising in the Mediterranean, the bird escaped from the -cabin and, flying out to sea, became weighted down with the spray and -dropped into the water. The dog leaped overboard, and when he was -hauled up on deck again, he dropped the bird out of his mouth, quite -uninjured. Another naval officer who owned a Newfoundland was drowned -when his ship was sunk near Liverpool. The faithful dog swam about -over the spot for three days and three nights, searching vainly for -his master, before he would allow himself to be brought exhausted to -land. - -"Friendships between two dogs are very rare, but instances have been -recorded, and in most of these a Newfoundland figures. At Donaghadee -there was once a mastiff and a Newfoundland who were, for some reason, -bitter enemies, and as both were powerful dogs, it was desirable to -keep them apart. One day, however, the mastiff attacked the -Newfoundland on the pier, and a terrific fight ensued. At length both -dogs fell into the water and loosed their holds. The Newfoundland was -soon on dry land, but the mastiff was a poor swimmer and appeared in -danger of drowning. The Newfoundland, observing the plight of his -recent antagonist, plunged in again and brought him to shore, after -which the two dogs were the closest friends. Another Newfoundland at -Cork became so annoyed by a small, troublesome cur, that at last he -took him in his mouth and dropped him into the water. When the small -dog was nearly drowned the Newfoundland rescued him, and was never -annoyed by him again. - -"But the Newfoundland has been the means of saving not merely drowning -persons. In 1841 a laborer named Rake in the parish of Botley, near -Southampton, in England, was buried in a gravel pit with two ribs -broken. He was helpless and would undoubtedly have died there if his -employer's Newfoundland dog had not dug him out. - -"William Youatt, who wrote two or three of the dog books in my -library, tells of an experience he once had with a friend's -Newfoundland dog named Carlo. Youatt and the friend and Carlo parted -on the road to Kingston, the dog and his master turning off toward -Wandsworth. Soon afterward Youatt was accosted by ruffians. He never -knew what made Carlo come back to him, but the dog appeared at the -critical moment and drove the men away. Carlo escorted Youatt to a -safe place, and then, in the author's quaint words, 'with many a -mutual and honest greeting we parted, and he bounded away to overtake -his rightful owner.' - -"The Newfoundland has always been famous as the protector of children, -and this is illustrated by an amusing story told of a Newfoundland -that was owned by the chief engineer on H. M. S. _Buffalo_. The -incident took place on an evening in 1858 at the Woolwich theater in -London. In the third act of the play, 'Jessie Vere,' there was a -violent struggle over the possession of a child. The dog, who had -sneaked into the theater behind his master, flew to the rescue across -the footlights, much to the consternation of all concerned." - -"My!" said Ernest Whipple, "there are certainly a fine lot of -stories about Newfoundlands. Are they all true?" - -"Well," smiled Mr. Hartshorn, "I can't vouch for them all, but I -believe that most of them are founded on fact, and some of them are -undoubtedly quite true. Now let's see what the next dog is. - -"The Great Dane is at the present time the most popular of the very -large dogs. As you can see by looking at Hamlet, he is a powerful, -graceful animal. The breed was used in Germany, I don't know how long -ago, for hunting the wild boar and was introduced into England in the -'80's as the German boarhound. You can see from this one what kind of -dog it is. The ears are commonly cropped in this country, but in 1895 -the practice was abolished in England for all breeds. I hope some day -it will be abolished here. The fanciers think cropping makes the dog -look smarter, but it's a silly, unnatural thing to do, when you come -to think of it. I wish I didn't have to do it with my bull terriers, -but they would never take prizes with long ears. I don't remember any -Great Dane stories. - -"Now we come to the smaller ones. Mike here is a very good English -bulldog, though not so extreme a type as some of them. This breed, -like the mastiff, is of British origin, and probably came from the -same ancestry. He was trained for bull baiting and later for pit -fighting. Tramps and other people are afraid of bulldogs because of -their frightful appearance, but as you can see, if you know Mike, they -are often as gentle as lambs. - -"The French bulldog is much smaller and he is different in many -respects. He has big bat ears, for one thing. The chow chow is an -interesting dog that comes from China. Perhaps you will be amazed when -I tell you that this dog was originally bred and fattened by the -Chinese to be eaten like pork and mutton. The tastes of the Oriental -are certainly peculiar. - -"The poodle, which was originally a German dog but which was developed -chiefly in France, used to be better known than he is now. He is -supposed to be the cleverest of all dogs and you will usually find -poodles in troops of trick dogs." - -"It seems to me," said Theron, "that I've read some stories about -poodles." - -"Yes, there are a number of classic poodle stories," said Mr. -Hartshorn, "illustrating the cleverness of the breed. I am sorry to -say that poodles have been trained as thieves' dogs, and have been -widely used by smugglers on the French frontiers, who trained them to -carry lace and other valuable commodities across the border. - -"The most famous of these stories is that of the poodle of the Pont -Neuf, one of the bridges of Paris. He was owned by a bootblack, who -taught him to roll in the mud of the Seine and then run about among -the pedestrians on the bridge, dirtying their shoes. This meant more -business for the bootblack. An Englishman observed this performance -and was much impressed by the dog's smartness in carrying out his -part. He offered the bootblack a good price for the poodle and took -him back to London with him. But the poodle didn't care for his new -life; apparently he had no wish to reform. Somehow or other he managed -to stow himself away on a Channel boat and made his way back to Paris, -where he returned to his former master and resumed his old -occupation." - -[Illustration: Toy Poodle] - -When the boys had finished laughing over this droll story, Mr. -Hartshorn continued: - -"The Dalmatian or coach dog comes from eastern Europe, and was bred -long ago in Dalmatia, now an Austrian province. He was well known in -England by 1800 and was used there as a stable dog and was trained to -run with the horses and under the carriages. Here you will see them -most often as mascots in fire engine houses. It's queer how fashions -run in those things. He is always pure white, evenly covered with -round black or brown spots. - -"The last of this group is the schipperke. I don't believe you know -him, for the breed isn't very common here. The name means 'little -skipper,' and the dog has long been a favorite with the captains of -Flemish and Dutch canal barges. The schipperke has no tail to wag. -There," he concluded, "I guess I've filled you up with enough dog -information for this trip. I don't want to overdo it." - -"You couldn't overdo it for me," said Ernest Whipple. "Will you tell -us about some of the other breeds another day?" - -"And tell us more anecdotes?" chimed in Jack. - -"I promise," said Mr. Hartshorn. - -Ernest, Harry, and Theron were boys of the type that love to collect -facts and figures, and they had recently been doing some reading on -the subject of the breeds of dogs. They discussed the matter all the -way home, becoming quite excited now and then over disputed points. - -"Mr. Hartshorn said that Rags didn't belong to any regular breed," -said Jimmie Rogers as the boys separated, "but I don't care. There -ought to be a breed like him, anyway, 'cause there isn't any better -dog anywhere. Rags is good enough for me." - -"That's right," cried the other boys in chorus. "You stick to Rags. -He's all right, whatever the books say. Good-by, Rags. So long, Jim." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -DOG DAYS - - -By June both Romulus and Remus were in full health again and Mr. -Whipple admitted that they began to look like real English setters. -They were puppies still, full of fun and mischief, but their coats had -lost some of their fuzzy, silky character and their bodies had -lengthened and filled out. They had gained a greater control over -their muscles and in their gambols about the yard they had acquired -considerable speed. Sam Bumpus came down again to look at them and -pronounced them likely-looking youngsters. - -"They've got some growin' to do yet," said he, "but they're gainin' -bone and speed every day, and the first thing you know you'll have two -fine bird dogs, or I don't know what I'm talking about." - -They also displayed increasing devotion to their masters and had begun -to develop, to a certain extent, the qualities of watchdogs. - -It was about this time that Jack Whipple made an extraordinary and -alarming discovery. He noticed one day that Remus was having some sort -of trouble with his mouth, as though he had perhaps got a piece of -bone wedged in his teeth. He worked his jaws in a laughable manner and -poked at them with his paw. Then he shook his head, ejected a small -white object, and appeared relieved. - -Thinking it must be a piece of bone, Jack picked it up and examined -it. It was a tooth! He called Ernest, and after poking about in Rome, -they discovered another tooth in the sawdust beside the food dish. -They proceeded to examine both dogs, and in Romulus's mouth they found -another loose tooth which came out in Ernest's fingers. - -"Why," cried Jack, "they're losing all their teeth. How will they eat? -How can they do anything?" - -Ernest was equally puzzled, and that evening they told their father -about it. He also seemed perplexed. - -"I'm afraid I can't help you," said he. "You'd better consult Tom -Poultice or Sam Bumpus. Perhaps there's some disease that loosens -dogs' teeth. Possibly it's the result of the distemper. I understand -there are sometimes after-effects of that, such as deafness, and it -may cause a dropping of the teeth. You'd better see about it before it -goes any further." - -The boys had been planning for some little time to take the two dogs -up to Sam's shack, since they now seemed old and strong enough to -stand the journey, and it would be good fun for all concerned. So -Ernest sent Sam word that they were coming, and on a bright, warm -Saturday morning the four of them set out. - -The sky was clear and blue, a light breeze tempered the warmth of the -brilliant sunshine, and it was a joy just to be alive and out in the -open. The boys had their hands full, for Romulus and Remus had never -before enjoyed so much liberty, and they did not always answer -promptly the recalling whistle. The world, this great, new world, -seemed to hold so many sights and sounds and scents to interest a dog -that their impulse was to keep going and searching and never turn -back. But it was a pleasure just to watch the zest with which they -investigated every thicket and hillock. As they trotted along, -twisting and doubling and turning, their noses held now high, sniffing -the breeze, now close to the ground, they seemed to develop something -of that lithe grace of movement that characterized the actions of -their mother and old Nan. - -When they arrived at their destination, the dogs were at first much -excited by the presence of so many others of their kind, but after a -little while they were glad to take a long drink of water and to rest -on the floor of the shack. - -Sam, as usual, was smiling and cordial. "They're comin' on; they're -comin' on," said he, patting the young dogs and observing their -sinewy limbs, their sensitive nostrils, and their soft, intelligent -eyes. "Been teachin' 'em to hunt on the way up?" - -The boys were forced to admit that they had made little progress with -the vocational training of Romulus and Remus. - -"Well, there's plenty of time for that," said Sam. "They've got to get -the sense of the fields and the woods first. You get 'em so they'll -come when they're called, and a little later on I'll have time to take -'em in hand and teach 'em the fine points of the game. How have they -been, anyway? They're lookin' as sound as nuts." - -"They've been very well," answered Ernest, "except for one thing. We -don't know what's the trouble, but their teeth are dropping out." - -"Their teeth----" began Sam, and then burst into a roar of laughter, -in which the boys presently joined, though they did not know why. - -"Don't you worry about them teeth," said he, when he could speak -again. "I'll bet it wasn't so very long ago that Jack here had the -very same trouble. Didn't you know that dogs lose their first teeth -the same as boys do? Sure thing. Some folks are a good deal troubled -about it and pull out the loose teeth for fear the dogs will swallow -them, but it ain't likely to hurt 'em if they do. Just let 'em alone -and nature will look out for 'em. New and stronger teeth will grow -in their places and then they'll be fixed for life." - -The boys, relieved to find that the matter was not serious, laughed -again. - -"I guess this joke's on father, too," said Ernest. - -This trip to Sam's shack was the first of a number of excursions -thither which Sam seemed to enjoy as much as the boys and the dogs. -And when vacation time came and every day was like Saturday, Ernest -and Jack Whipple came to understand better what it really means to -have good dogs for constant companions. It was in these days that -visits to the swimming hole over by the brickyard began, and Romulus -and Remus were taught to enjoy the water as much as their masters did. - -This swimming hole, in fact, proved to be the accepted meeting place -for most of the boys and dogs of Boytown, for it became a regular -practice for the boys to bring their dogs and to invent various -aquatic sports in which the dogs played an important part. Old Mike -hated the water and could scarcely be induced to go in, but most of -the others entered into the spirit of the game with zest. Little Alert -proved to be a regular cork in the water, and even huge Hamlet -splashed about in a dignified sort of way. But the general favorite -was Rags. He could dive for stones, retrieve sticks, and even stand -up in the water, with his fore feet pawing the air in a manner to -bring laughter to the soberest. And he had a way of devising sport of -his own, not always respecting the sanctity of the boys' clothing. - -I don't know how it is with other boys, but it is certain that the -constant association with faithful four-footed comrades was good for -the boys of Boytown. Boys are often thoughtless to an extent that -verges upon cruelty. They love to tease and often find amusement in -inventing new trials for a much-enduring cat or dog. But once let them -get the idea of comradeship and protection firmly fixed, and not -infrequently a sort of chivalry appears to develop in their natures. - -At least it was so with these boys. They quarreled and disputed and -occasionally fought, as boys will, but there was no more torturing of -animals, and with this came less bullying of little boys and teasing -of little girls. Each boy felt the responsibility of protecting his -own beloved dog, and with this came a sense of protection toward all -animals. Mrs. Hammond, Theron's mother, was wise enough to observe and -take advantage of this, and she organized the boys into a sort of -Humane Society, with meetings every two weeks, and a set of rules and -objects. They were pledged to do what they could to see that no dumb -animal was abused, and more than once they were able to dissuade a -brutal teamster from beating an overburdened horse. In only one -quarter did they totally fail. Dick Wheat on would neither join the -Humane Society nor would he mend his ways in regard to his treatment -of Gyp. But at least he never attempted to abuse any other animal -whenever any of the boys were about, after having received a good -licking at the hands of Jimmie Rogers for annoying Rags. That taught -him a much needed lesson. - -If every boy in America could be taught to be as kind to animals as -these boys were, and to interest himself personally in their -treatment, this would be a better world to live in. - -So the summer vacation days passed, with plenty of outdoor fun, the -boys forming an ever closer comradeship with their common interest, -and Romulus and Remus gaining in strength and wisdom every day. For -the most part they were healthy dogs and gave their masters little -concern on that score, though sometimes their tendency to get into -mischief required attention, for Mrs. Whipple was not reconciled to -their presence about her house and it was necessary to keep watch lest -they offend beyond the chance of pardon. The day they brought Delia to -the verge of tears by tearing a clean sheet from the clothesline and -clashing with it about a muddy yard would have produced a disastrous -crisis if Mr. Whipple had not once more intervened. - -Once or twice the two dogs had to be doctored again for worms, and in -August came the pest of fleas. This was a source of annoyance to both -boys and dogs, and Mrs. Whipple, when she found it out, was in -constant fear lest the insects be introduced into the house. When -Ernest or Jack discovered one on their own persons at night they left -no stone unturned to capture and decapitate it. - -As to the dogs, they suffered not a little. Their long coats made a -splendid breeding place for the parasites and they wore themselves -thin with scratching. Fleas are not a pleasant thing to talk about, -but all dogs get them, especially the long-haired kinds, and not even -frequent visits to the swimming hole will eradicate them. - -It was Sam Bumpus who told the boys what to do about it. One day, when -they went up to visit him, he refused to let Romulus and Remus into -the shack or near his kennels. - -"They're full of fleas," said he as he watched the dogs scratching -nervously, "and I don't want 'em to be droppin' 'em around where my -dogs'll get 'em. I have trouble enough with the varmints as 'tis. You -ought to get rid of 'em. If you don't, they'll hang on till November -and the dogs'll be no good for huntin'." - -"But how do you get rid of them?" asked Ernest. - -"Wash 'em in cresolin or cresoleum or whatever your druggist wants to -call it. He'll know what you want when you tell him. Mix it with warm -water and soapsuds and scrub 'em good. Then rub 'em dry. Do it -outdoors on the grass. It's better than insect powder. It won't kill -all the eggs, but it will drive the fleas off, and if you keep at it, -and do it often enough, you'll get rid of 'em all. Besides, it gives -the dogs some relief before the new ones can hatch. Better burn their -beds once in awhile, too, to kill the eggs in 'em." - -The boys faithfully followed Sam's instructions and were pleased to -find the trouble greatly abated. - -It was in August, too, that they took Romulus and Remus for their -first trip to Willowdale. They were anxious to learn what Mr. and Mrs. -Hartshorn and Tom Poultice would think of their dogs, and they were -always glad of an excuse to visit the bull terriers and Airedales and -to listen to doggy talk. - -Luckily, Mr. Hartshorn was at home on this occasion, though they paid -their respects first to Tom and the kennels before going up to the big -house. Tom had not seen the two setters since they had recovered from -the distemper, and he was pleased to be frankly enthusiastic. - -"Well, I'll be blowed!" he exclaimed. "And are these the same two -dogs that I doctored in your barn last spring? They were sad enough -looking pictures then. The bally rascals! They sure 'ave grown some. -Hi'd like nothing better than to take 'em out some day myself on a bit -of an 'unt. Look at the legs of 'em! Say, you've got two fine bird -dogs there." - -Naturally the boys were much pleased by Tom's praise of their beloved -dogs, and they lingered for a time about the kennels while Tom pointed -out to them the fine points in a setter's action and explained how -their graceful, level gait enabled them to keep their noses out in -front where they would catch the scent, and at the same time cover -rough country at high speed. - -"Hi've 'eard it said," remarked Tom, "that an 'unting pointer can -travel at the rate of eighteen miles an hour and keep it up for two or -three hours, and I guess a good setter's about as fast." - -"My!" exclaimed Jack, joyfully, as they walked over to the house, "do -you s'pose we've got the two very best dogs in the world, Ernest?" - -"I don't know," said Ernest. "Maybe." - -The ardor was cooled a trifle by Mr. Hartshorn. He examined Romulus -and Remus in a minute, judicial, critical manner, and discovered a -number of technical points in which they fell short of perfection. - -"But," he added, "they're mighty good dogs, and you must remember that -no dog is absolutely perfect from the show judge's standpoint. And if -these come from as fine a working strain as you have led me to -believe, it is remarkable that they should measure up so well by -bench-show standards. Some of the finest show champions are -second-rate dogs in the field, and some of the best hunting and -field-tried dogs couldn't win a yellow ribbon on the bench. I should -say that your dogs gave promise of developing both working and show -qualities to a marked degree, and I shall watch their careers with -great interest. You have a brace of fine dogs there, and no mistake." - -Whereat Jack and Ernest felt better. - -"You promised to tell us something about setters and other bird dogs," -Ernest reminded him. - -"Well," said Mr. Hartshorn, "I'm not sure that I know so very much -about them. I used to do a little shooting years ago, but your friend -Bumpus undoubtedly knows a lot more about the game than I do." - -"Oh, yes," said Ernest, "he does know a lot about hunting and training -dogs, but I mean about the breeds themselves, their history and the -sort of things you told us about some of the other breeds." - -"Well," said Mr. Hartshorn, "I'll do the best I can. The development -of the setter is an interesting story, but first we'll have to go -back to the spaniels. Spaniels, you know, are still classed as -shooting or gun dogs, and are used for that to some extent, and the -setter's ancestor was a spaniel. - -"The spaniel first came from Spain or France and there are still many -kinds on the continent of Europe. But the spaniel has been known for a -long time in England, too, and the kinds we know here are those of -British development. Mrs. Hartshorn has already told you about the -English toy spaniels, so I will omit those. - -"In the early days, the breeds weren't divided up as they are to-day, -but were known as large and small land spaniels and water spaniels. -The oldest of the land spaniels of England now in existence is the -Sussex spaniel. You won't see any in the United States, I think. - -"The clumber spaniel you can see in our shows, but he also is more -popular among the sportsmen and fanciers of England than here. He is -the heaviest of the spaniels. The cocker spaniel is the most popular -kind in this country. His name comes from the fact that he was used in -England for many years for hunting woodcock. He is smaller than the -others. The field spaniel is much like a large-sized cocker, weighing -about twice as much. Finally there is the curly, brown Irish water -spaniel, which is really more closely related to the retriever and -the poodle than to the other spaniels. - -"Though spaniels are sporting dogs, they have always been enjoyed -quite as much for their companionship, and they have an enviable -reputation for fidelity. There is a story told of a spaniel of the -time of the French Revolution which reminds one of Greyfriars Bobby. -This dog belonged to a magistrate who was condemned for conspiracy and -was thrown into prison. By means of his coaxing and pretty ways, the -spaniel at last won the heart of one of the jailers and managed to get -in to his master. He never left him after that, even crouching between -his knees when the magistrate was guillotined. He followed the body to -its burial and tried to dig into the grave. Obliged at last to abandon -hope of ever seeing his master again, he refused to eat, and died at -length, of hunger and exposure, on his master's grave. - -"Another sad story of devotion is that of a spaniel belonging to the -gamekeeper of the Rev. Mr. Corseillis of Wivenhoe, Essex, England. -This dog's name was Dash, and he was his master's constant companion -at night, when he was able to render valuable service in helping to -detect poachers. When the old gamekeeper died, nothing could persuade -Dash to accompany his successor on his rounds. He divided his time -between the grave and the room in which his master had died, and at -last he, too, died of a broken heart. - -"Let me give you a more cheerful one before we pass on to the setters. -Once when Mrs. Grosvenor of Richmond went to visit a relative who -owned some pet cats, she took her Blenheim spaniel with her. The cats, -who were selfish, spoiled creatures, were too many for the small -spaniel, and they succeeded in driving him out of the house. But he -refused to acknowledge defeat. He proceeded to establish an alliance -with the gardener's cat, a big, husky Tom, and when the time was ripe, -the two of them attacked and routed their common enemy, after which -the spaniel was let alone. - -"Now we come to the setters. In some respects they are our finest gun -dogs. They came from one of the old land spaniels that was taught to -crouch when finding game and they were called setting spaniels until -about 1800. Since then the breed has been greatly improved. There are -three well-known varieties, English, Irish, and Gordon, all -first-class dogs. - -"A man named Laverack in Shropshire, England, was the one who did the -most to develop the English setter. He bred them from 1825 to 1875 and -produced the standard strain. Later a man named Llewellyn promoted the -strain and added new blood. You will still hear the names Laverack -and Llewellyn applied to different types of English setters. This -English variety is the most popular and numerous of the three. - -"I don't want to make any unpleasant comparisons, but to my mind the -Irish setter is the handsomest of the family, though as a sporting dog -he does not rank with the English setter. His shape is very nearly the -same as that of the English setter, but his coat is always a wonderful -red-brown, almost golden when the sun shines on it, often very dark, -but with no black spots. - -"The Gordon setter is the heaviest of the three and comes from a -strain developed a century ago by the Duke of Richmond Gordon, a -Scotchman. The color is always rich black and tan. - -"These are not the only bird dogs, however. There are the retrievers -and the pointer, besides some European breeds, but I'm going to save -them for another time. I've got to get ready to catch a train now, and -besides, I'm afraid of giving you this sort of information in too -large a chunk." - -Mr. Hartshorn bade them good-by and went upstairs. The boys remained a -few minutes longer with Mrs. Hartshorn, who had taken a great fancy to -Romulus and Remus, and then they set off for home in the hot sun of -the afternoon. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE TRAINING OF ROMULUS - - -On the way back from Thornboro that day something happened that gave a -new direction to the thoughts and aspirations of Ernest and Jack -Whipple. They had gone somewhat out of their way to a woods road that -was shadier and cooler than the highway and Romulus was nosing and -sniffing about in the underbrush quite a little distance to the left. -Ernest whistled, but Romulus apparently did not hear. He seemed to be -darting about in the bushes with unusual eagerness. - -"What has he found, do you s'pose?" asked Jack. - -"Let's go and see," said Ernest. - -The two boys and Remus turned out of the road and approached the spot -where Romulus was hunting. Suddenly there was a whir of wings and a -dark object flashed upward and disappeared among the trees. - -For a moment Romulus and Remus both stood rigid, with heads and tails -outstretched. Then they broke and disappeared in the woods. It was -some little time before the boys could get them back again and -started along the homeward road. The boys, breathless with running, -had not spoken to each other, but now Ernest said: - -"It was some kind of a bird, Jack. Did you notice?" - -"Yes," said Jack. "Why, Ernest, they know how to hunt already." - -"I guess it's instinct," said Ernest. "And did you see them point? -They really did, for a minute, just like Sam's Nan, or the pictures in -the books." - -"Oh, Ernest," cried Jack, "we must take them hunting. Do you s'pose we -could?" - -"Sam could, anyway," said the older boy. "He said he'd train them." - -The rest of the way home they talked of nothing but hunting and the -wonderful achievements that were in store for the two dogs. - -Mr. Whipple approved the plan to have Romulus and Remus trained. A -good dog, in his eyes, was a dog that was good for something, and he -recognized the value of a well-trained bird dog though he had no -desire to see the boys become too fond of hunting themselves. - -"All right," said he, "take them up to Bumpus and let him train them, -but you boys must promise not to ask to handle a gun yourselves. -You're not old enough, for one thing, and besides, your mother -doesn't approve of shooting. It's a dangerous business at best. -Remember, now, no nonsense about guns." - -The boys, willing to postpone that question till some future time, -readily promised, and on a Saturday morning in September, soon after -the reopening of school, they took the dogs up to Sam's shack. - -"Remember," said Sam, "I ain't promisin' anything. You never can tell -what kind of a bird dog a setter will make till you've tried him out. -I've got a lot of other things to attend to this fall, too. But I'll -do the best I can, and you mustn't be impatient if they ain't all -finished off in two weeks. Now we'll take 'em out for their first -lesson." - -That first lesson proved to be a rather tedious affair to Ernest and -Jack. Nothing was said about birds or guns, pointing or retrieving. -Sam's chief aim was to get the dogs to obey his word and whistle as -well as they obeyed those of the boys, and the latter were forced to -keep silent while he gradually gained the mastery over the two lively -young dogs. Sam displayed, in this, much greater patience than the -boys did, but still it was pleasant to be out in the fields this fine -September day and to watch the dogs as they came to respond more and -more readily to the commands of their trainer. At first, indeed, there -was but one command, expressed by a sharp whistle or by the words -"Come here, boy!" Sam seemed determined to add no further commands -until he had secured unfailing and prompt obedience to this one. But, -slow as the process was, it was really remarkable what progress was -made in a few short hours. - -At noon they took the dogs back to the shack to enjoy a rest and a dry -bone apiece, while Sam cooked and served a delicious luncheon of -buckwheat cakes, bacon, and cocoa. Then, after he had enjoyed a pipe -or two and they had listened to some of his tales of dogs and hunting, -they started out again. - -This time Sam fastened a cord of good length to the dogs' collars, -something they were not used to. - -"I'll need to use this later on," said he, "and they've got to get -used to the feel of it first. They've got to learn to stand it without -pullin', and to answer the signals." - -Again he exhibited extraordinary patience, for the dogs resented this -unaccustomed restraint and seemed possessed to pull at their leads and -try to break away. It took a good two hours to break them to this -simple harness. Then Sam took it off and went all over the first -lesson again, which at first the dogs appeared to have forgotten. - -"Well, as the minister says, here endeth the first lesson," said Sam -when the shadows of late afternoon began to lengthen, and they -turned back again toward the shack. The boys now realized that they -were very tired. - -"Do you think they'll ever learn?" asked Jack, somewhat plaintively. - -"Why, sure," said Sam. "I've seen worse ones than these. They're high -spirited, as good dogs ought to be, and a bit heady, but they'll -learn. They've done very well, so far." - -Still doubting, but somewhat encouraged, the boys prepared to take -their departure. In order that the training might go on uninterrupted -it was necessary to leave Romulus and Remus in Sam's care, and it is a -question which felt the worse about the separation, the boys or the -dogs. Ernest and Jack knew that their pets would be in good hands and -kindly treated, but it was hard to say good-by. As for the dogs, they -set up a howling and crying, when they found they were being deserted. - -"They'll soon get over that," said Sam. "They'll begin to take an -interest in the other dogs pretty soon, and then they'll feel more at -home." - -Thus reassured, the boys started off down the road without their -four-footed comrades, but the insistent wails that followed them were -very heart-rending, and two big tears rolled down Jack's round cheeks. -And it was several days before they could get used to the desolate, -deserted look of Rome or become reconciled to the absence of their -playmates. - -They could hardly wait for the next Saturday to come, when they could -go up again to Sam's shack and visit their beloved dogs. Romulus and -Remus were overjoyed at seeing them again, and it was some time before -Sam could get them quieted down sufficiently to take them out for -another lesson. He had been training them during the week, and the -boys now heard him addressing them with strange words. He placed their -check-cords on again, and this time the dogs did not seem to resent it -so much. Indeed, they seemed to look upon it as the preliminary of a -good time, which, as Sam explained, was the idea he had tried to -impress on them. - -"Hie-on!" cried Sam, and the dogs started off at a bound. - -"To-ho!" he called. This meant to stop abruptly, and this command the -dogs, hoping for a good run, did not obey so readily. A quick tug at -the check-cord reminded them of the meaning of the command, and soon -they stopped more promptly at the words. - -"Come in," said Sam, and the dogs approached him. - -"Charge!" said Sam. "Down!" After several attempts the dogs -reluctantly obeyed and crouched at his feet. - -"Heel!" he cried, and after several repetitions of the order they took -their places quietly behind him. - -"They're always a little slower the first thing in the mornin'," Sam -explained, "before they've run off some of their deviltry. They'll -improve as they go along." - -And improve they did. In the afternoon Sam took them out without the -check-cord and kept perseveringly at them until they would "hie-on" -and "to-ho" and "charge" and "heel" with reasonable promptness. - -"By next week I hope to show you something more," said Sam. - -"When will you shoot over them and teach them to point?" asked Ernest. - -"Oh, not for some time yet," said Sam. "They've got to learn the a b c -of it first. Next I shall try to teach them to answer my hand. First -I'll call and wave at the same time, and then just wave. Then they've -got to learn to range--to go whichever direction I want 'em to and -turn when I want 'em to. Then I'll give 'em lessons in retrievin'." - -But before another Saturday had come around, Sam had discovered -something--something which affected the whole future career of Remus. - -Ernest and Jack had duties to perform that Saturday which engaged them -the entire morning, and they were unable to go up to Sam's until -afternoon. Their visit was consequently a short one and they had but -little time to spend with Sam in the field. They found, however, that -the training had been progressing satisfactorily. Sam was allowing the -dogs to range in ever widening circles, and on the whole they were -obeying his commands in a promising manner. They were beginning to -retrieve objects, also, not as a hit-or-miss game after the manner of -Rags, but in answer to the commands "Go fetch it," and "Pick it up." -Moreover, the dogs were less homesick now that they had begun to take -an interest in their occupations and to become acquainted with the -other dogs. They seemed to understand, too, that Ernest and Jack had -not utterly deserted them but might be expected to appear at almost -any moment. - -But when it came time to go home Sam detained them for a moment. - -"I've got to tell you something," said he, scratching his chin and -looking a bit unhappy, "and I don't believe you'll like it much." - -"Oh," cried Ernest, "can't you keep the dogs?" - -"I can keep Romulus," said Sam, "but I've got to ask you to take Remus -back. I've given him every chance and I find he's hopeless as a bird -dog. He learns quick enough--quicker than Romulus if anything. But -he's got no nose, none at all, and a setter with no nose is about -useless in the field. It would be a waste of time to try to train -him, and when we got on the birds he would only get in Romulus's way -and spoil him. So I guess you'll have to take him back and let me go -ahead with the good one." - -"Why, what do you mean?" inquired Jack, struggling to hide his -disappointment. "Can't he smell?" - -"Oh, I s'pose he can tell spoiled fish when he gets it, but he don't -catch the scent of anything on the air. I guess it was the distemper -that did it. He had it worse than Romulus and it often spoils their -noses when they have it hard enough. I'm sorry, but it can't be helped -and it can't be cured." - -For a few minutes Jack stood silent, pressing his lips together. Then -suddenly he knelt down beside Remus and hugged him passionately. - -"I don't care whether you've got a nose or not, Remus," he cried. "I -don't want to go hunting, ever. Noses don't matter. You're the best -dog in the whole world, anyhow." - -And so they took Remus back with them that afternoon, leaving Romulus -behind, howling mournfully for his brother. - -Such reports as they received from Sam indicated that the training of -Romulus proceeded with fair rapidity during the fall. They were not -able to go up to his shack very often for one reason or another, and -Jack, at least, was not so anxious to do so as he had been. Remus -lived in solitary luxury in Rome and was in some danger of being -spoiled by the petting he received from his loyal master. - -Romulus, so Ernest learned, could now retrieve at command and would -bring back a dead pigeon or other bird without rumpling its feathers. -He would also range in obedience to a wave of Sam's hand and was -gradually learning to stand fast and hold his point when he flushed a -covey of birds. Finally Sam took out his gun to shoot over him, and -the rest of his training was to be chiefly that persistent practice -which finally makes perfect. - -It was decided that Romulus should remain with Sam until snow fell, -but one night there came a scratching and a whining at the door and a -series of peculiar short little barks so persistently kept up that -they awakened both the boys. They slipped on their dressing gowns and -slippers and stole downstairs. - -At the door they found Romulus with a broken bit of rope tied to his -collar. - -"Why," cried Jack, "it's Romulus. See, he must have broken away." - -"He came all the way home alone in the dark," said Ernest. "How do you -s'pose he ever found his way?" - -Romulus seemed to understand that it was not the time to make a noise, -for though he kept leaping on the boys in an access of delight and -making little sounds in his throat that were almost human, he -refrained from the loud, joyous barking that he would have indulged in -if it had been daytime. Remus had heard him, however, and was making a -considerable commotion in Rome. So the boys took Romulus quietly out -to his brother, who greeted him with paw and tongue and voice, and -bidding both dogs goodnight, they went back to the house. - -So it was decided that if Romulus so much desired his own home, he -should be deprived of it no longer. Sam came down in a day or two to -find out about it. - -"I thought he'd probably run home," said he, "but I wanted to make -sure. I guess we'd better leave him here now. I'm pretty near through -with him for this fall, anyway. You just bring him up once in awhile -so I can take him out and not let him forget what I've learned him." - -Meanwhile the affairs of Boytown were going on much as usual. Autumn -passed in golden glory, with nutting expeditions in October in which -sometimes as many as a dozen boys and a dozen dogs joined forces. As -they started out through the town streets, Mr. Fellowes, the news -dealer and stationer, said it looked as though a circus had come to -town. - -Such things, however, were of common and regular occurrence. Only two -episodes of that season deserve to be specially recorded. One was a -dog fight which for a time brought the dog-owning fraternity of -Boytown into ill repute. - -For some time several of the boys had been bragging, as boys will, -about the prowess in battle of their particular dogs, and this -narrowed down at length to an unsettled controversy between Monty -Hubbard and Harry Barton. Monty maintained that the Irish terrier was -the greatest dare-devil and fighter in the canine world, and he quoted -books and individuals to prove it. Harry, on the other hand, insisted -that the bulldog's grit and tenacity were proverbial, and loudly -asserted that if Mike once got a grip on Mr. O'Brien's throat, it -would be good-by, Mr. O'Brien. - -It is only fair to the boys to state that it was the Irish terrier -that started the fracas on his own initiative. He was a scrappy -terrier, always ready to start something, and it usually required -considerable vigilance to keep him out of trouble. But it must be -confessed that on this particular occasion his master did not exert -the usual restraint. - -It happened out on the road that Ernest and Jack so often took when -they visited Sam Bumpus or Trapper's Cave. Mr. O'Brien had been -annoying the other dogs for some little time, rushing and barking at -them and inviting a friendly encounter. He was not vicious, but he -loved a tussle. Finally Mike the bulldog, usually so long-suffering, -lost patience and turned on Mr. O'Brien with a menacing snarl that -seemed to mean business. For a moment the Irishman stood still in -surprise, while Mike, his head held low, waited with a stubborn look -in his eyes. - -[Illustration: Irish Terrier] - -That was clearly the time for interference, but I regret to say that -instead of interfering, the boys grouped themselves about with -feelings of not unpleasant anticipation. I further regret to say that -Ernest Whipple was one of the most interested. - -Suddenly Mr. O'Brien, recovering from his surprise, returned to the -attack with an impetuous rush which nearly bowled Mike over. But -Mike was heavier than Mr. O'Brien and stood very solidly on his four -outspread feet. He merely turned about and presented a terrifying -front to his more active antagonist. Again Mr. O'Brien rushed, seeking -a hold on Mike's big, muscular neck. - -For a time Mr. O'Brien seemed to be having the best of it. He took the -offensive and seemed to be on all sides of Mike at once. The bulldog's -ear was bleeding and Harry urged him to retaliate. - -Suddenly Mike raised his huge bulk and bore down the lighter dog -beneath his weight. Then he began methodically seeking the vice-like -hold that would have meant the last of Mr. O'Brien. - -Just at that moment, however, a diversion occurred. - -"Here, there, what are you doin'?" demanded a man's hoarse voice, and -Sam Bumpus came striding into the thick of it. Without the slightest -fear or hesitation, though such an act was decidedly not without -danger, he darted in and seized the dogs by their collars, one in each -hand, and displaying wonderful strength of arm he dragged them apart. -If Mike had succeeded in getting his hold, if Sam had come up a minute -later, he could not have done it. As it was, he held the snarling, -struggling dogs at arm's length, shook them, and then ordered their -masters to take them in charge and keep them apart. - -Ernest had never seen Sam angry before; he was usually the embodiment -of even-tempered good humor. But he was angry now. His jaws snapped -and his eyes flashed, and he seemed to be itching to give somebody a -good spanking. At last he spoke. - -"I thought you boys was fond of dogs," he said. "I thought you made a -great fuss about bein' kind to animals. You ought to be ashamed of -yourselves, settin' two good dogs on to fight each other. Don't you -know no better? Dogs are built to fight, and they ought to know how to -when it's necessary, but any man or boy that starts 'em fightin' for -sport is a coward." - -Without another word he turned and vanished into the woods. The boys -made no comments, either, and I am glad to say that most of them were -about as ashamed of themselves as boys can be. By common consent the -afternoon's expedition was abandoned and the company dispersed. - -But that was not all of it. The story of the dog fight leaked out, and -there was more than one home in Boytown in which a boy was warned that -if anything of that kind happened again there would be no more dogs in -that family. And Monty Hubbard received something even more impressive -than a lecture. Mrs. Hammond, when she heard of it, was wise enough to -say nothing until the matter had cooled down somewhat. Then she took -occasion to set forth her views in a way that the boys never forgot, -and there was never another encouraged dog fight in that town. - -The other incident which I spoke of was the strange disappearance of -Romulus. One morning he was gone and he did not return home all that -day. Ernest searched for him in vain and went to bed that night with a -very heavy heart. The next day Romulus did not appear, nor the next. -Acting on his father's advice, Ernest placed an advertisement in the -paper and offered a reward, but without result. Little by little -Ernest was forced to give up hope, and a very disconsolate boy he was. -Jack and Remus did their best to console him, but he grieved night and -day. No one could suggest what had become of Romulus. - -Then, on the evening of the fifth day, a slight scratching was heard -at the door, and a low whine. Ernest, who was studying his lessons, -heard it first. Dropping his book on the floor, he rushed out, closely -followed by Jack and Mr. Whipple. There lay Romulus on the door mat, -"all in," as Sam Bumpus would have said. He was so weak and weary that -he could hardly rise, and the wonder was that he had been able to drag -himself home. A piece of rope attached to his collar showed that he -had broken loose from somewhere, and bleeding feet testified to the -distance he had come. Ernest lifted him in his arms and buried his -face in the dog's shaggy coat, and Romulus responded as well as he -could with a warm, moist tongue and a wagging tail. - -After they had given him a dinner of warm broth and had made him -comfortable in Rome, Mr. Whipple succeeded at last in dragging Ernest -away. - -"He'll be all right now," said Mr. Whipple. "He's exhausted, but he'll -soon recover from that. He's a young dog, you know." - -"But where could he have been?" wondered Jack. - -"It's my belief that he was stolen," said Mr. Whipple. "Someone who -knew he was a valuable dog stole him, but I doubt if we shall ever -learn who it was. But he must have been taken some distance away. He -looks as though he might have traveled thirty miles or more." - -"How do you s'pose he ever found his way back?" asked Jack. - -Mr. Whipple shook his head. "Dogs are wonderful creatures," said he. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -WILLOWDALE DOGS IN NEW YORK - - -There are parts of Connecticut in which winter is likely to be a -rather moist and miserable season, but Boytown was situated in the -hills where it was colder and dryer. It lay in the snow belt, as Mr. -Whipple used to say. Consequently, winter was, for these boys, a -season which offered as many opportunities for outdoor sport as -summer--coasting, skating, and all the rest of it. - -A favorite pastime with Ernest and Jack Whipple was what they called -snowshoeing. They wore no snowshoes or skiis, to be sure, but they -pretended they did, and they enjoyed trudging off over the -snow-covered fields and through the woods with their dogs, with their -eyes ever on the alert for the tracks of birds and wild animals. It -was Sam Bumpus who taught them how to distinguish these tracks, and -whenever they found an unfamiliar one they took the news to him and -learned what animal had made it. He showed them where a flock of quail -had spent the night in a close circle on the lee of a stone wall or a -corn shock and he told them about the quail's interesting life -history. He showed them how some birds hop and some, like the crow and -the blackbird and the starling, walk like a man or a chicken. He -taught them to know the tracks of the squirrel, the rabbit, and the -white-footed mouse, and even the fox and the raccoon, and one day he -showed them where an owl's wings had brushed the snow when he swooped -down to catch a mouse whose lacy little trail ended abruptly. Jack -thought that was a sad little story for the snow to tell. - -Often they wanted no other object than merely to be out in the open, -with the constant possibility of finding rare tracks, but sometimes -they walked with a more definite purpose--to take Romulus up to Sam's -for a little training to refresh his memory, or, when a longer trip -was possible, to pay a visit to Tom Poultice and the Hartshorns. They -were always welcome there. - -It was on one of these visits in January that Mr. Hartshorn made good -his promise to tell them something about the breeds of gun dogs other -than setters and spaniels. - -"I thought you must have forgotten about that," said he. "What -memories you youngsters have--for some things. Well, suppose we see -how much we know about the pointer. He is the dog, you know, that -contests with the English setter the title of most popular and -efficient gun dog. I won't attempt to settle the matter. Each breed -has its loyal advocates, and at the field trials sometimes a pointer -wins and sometimes a setter. - -"The pointer is a wonderfully symmetrical, lithe, athletic dog, with -remarkable nose, bird sense, and action. Like the setter he has been -trained to point and retrieve. He strains back to hound origin, -probably, but was developed as a distinct breed in Europe long ago, -doubtless with the help of setter and foxhound crosses. Some pointers -are wonderfully stanch. I knew of one who held the same point without -moving for an hour and a quarter, while an artist painted his -portrait, and I once heard of one who caught a scent while halfway -over a fence, and hung there by his fore paws till the birds were -flushed. - -"Then there are several varieties of retrievers that are also bird -dogs. In this country we have the retrievers proper, the Labrador dog, -and the Chesapeake Bay dog, though none of them are very common. They -are all probably of spaniel origin. - -"The Labrador dog is supposed to have come from Labrador, but we don't -know much about his history before 1850, when he was introduced into -England and was trained and used as a sporting dog. The wavy-coated -retriever, called also the flat-coated retriever, became popular among -British sportsmen and fanciers about 1870. He has a wavy coat, -longer than that of the Labrador dog. The curly-coated retriever, less -common in England than the wavy, has seldom been shown here. He is -characterized by short, crisp curls all over his body, with the -exception of the head, strongly suggesting the presence of poodle or -Irish water spaniel blood in his make-up. The Chesapeake Bay dog -originated in Maryland and possesses many of the traits of the -retrievers. He probably sprang from Labrador ancestors, crossed with -tan-colored hounds. - -"Finally we come to a very interesting dog, one that you would love if -you knew him--the wire-haired pointing griffon. He is a new dog with -us, but an old one in France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany. He is a -splendid bird dog, useful for all kinds of game, and a natural pointer -and retriever. He is medium-sized, symmetrical, and well built, with a -wiry coat, and has a face something like an otter hound or an -Airedale. And there you have all the prominent gun dogs." - -"What is an otter hound?" asked Ernest. - -Mr. Hartshorn laughed. "You are insatiable," said he. "Some day I'll -tell you about the otter hound and all the other members of the hound -family, but not to-day. You've had enough." - -It was partly the prospect of gaining information of this sort that -made the trips to Willowdale so attractive to the boys, partly a -genuine liking for Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn, and partly the fun of -talking with Tom Poultice and watching the Airedales and bull -terriers. But more than all I think it was the homelike, hospitable -character and doggy atmosphere of the big house. It was a place where -everybody loved dogs and took as much interest in them as though they -were people, and where any dog lover was welcome. Consequently, their -visits there were more frequent than Mrs. Whipple thought was quite -proper. - -"You'll wear out your welcome," she warned. But somehow they didn't -seem to. - -It was during these winter days that they heard a good deal of talk -about dog shows, both from Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn and from Tom -Poultice. Tom, indeed, was as much interested in the show dogs as if -they had been his own and he was never tired of talking of their -achievements on the bench and of their possible future triumphs. Mr. -Hartshorn owned a string of winners of both his breeds that were -famous throughout the country and that included several great -champions. Tom, who nearly always took the dogs to the shows and -stayed with them, knew every little point about them as well as the -points of their rivals. - -"Of course, it's a bloomin' gamble," he would say. "So much depends on -whether your dog or the other one is in the best condition. That's why -I've been doing so much fussing over them this winter. You can't be -too careful. An upset stomach may mean a staring coat and may spoil a -dog's chances. And then again you may run up against a new judge with -hideas of 'is own, and then all your reckoning goes to smash. It's a -great game, boys." - -And so they were wont to go out to the kennels and watch Tom grooming -the dogs and listen to his wise talk about points and judging. These -were busy days for him, for some of the biggest shows take place in -the winter and the early spring, and he had to keep the dogs in -constant condition. - -It was from Tom that they learned the names of famous dogs of various -breeds, of instances when great champions had been beaten by unknown -newcomers, and of the rising and setting stars of dogdom, but it was -from Mr. Hartshorn that they gained a clear idea of what a dog show -was like. He described to them the crowded halls, the long rows of -dogs of many breeds chained in little stalls on benches, the -arrangement of novice and puppy and limit and open classes for the -different breeds, and all the rest of it. - -"The dogs are taken to the show ring in classes," said he, "and the -judge for that breed sizes them up, feels of them, examines eyes, -teeth, and hair, compares posture and spirit and all the other things -that count, figures it all up according to a scale of points, and then -hands out ribbons to the winners--a blue ribbon for first prize, a red -one for second, and a yellow one for third. Cash prizes go with the -ribbons usually. There are also special trophies for special winnings, -such as the best American-bred dog of the breed, or the best brace, -and there is the contest between the winners of the different classes -in each breed. Finally, in some of the big shows, there is a special -trophy for the best dog of any breed in the show. This contest is -usually held at the end of the show, or perhaps before the packs of -hounds and beagles are judged, and it is always an exciting time. -Every exhibitor hopes to win one of the specials, but most of the dogs -are trying for their championship titles." - -"How do they win a championship?" asked Ernest. - -"A dog becomes a champion," answered Mr. Hartshorn, "when he has won -fifteen points in authorized shows. These points are granted according -to the size of the show. At the biggest shows the winner of a first -prize gets three points; at the smaller shows, where he has less -competition, he gets two points or one point. An official record is -kept of them all." - -"The New York show is the biggest of all, isn't it?" asked Ernest. - -"Yes," said Mr. Hartshorn. "It is usually held in Madison Square -Garden in February--four days including Washington's Birthday. It's -too long a time for the dogs to be benched, but there are so many of -them that it is impossible to get through the judging in less time. -Sixteen or eighteen hundred dogs are shown there, worth I don't know -how many thousands of dollars, and the crowds of spectators are big in -proportion. You get an idea at one of those shows how many people are -interested in dogs. The New York show is run by the Westminster Kennel -Club, and because it's the biggest of all its trophies are greatly -coveted. The dog that is adjudged the best of all breeds at the New -York show becomes the champion of champions of the United States." - -"Oh, my!" sighed Jack, "I wish I could see a dog show like that." - -"You will, some day," said Mr. Hartshorn. "And who knows but that you -may have a dog benched there and carry away some blue ribbons and a -silver cup." - -"Anyway," said Ernest, "you'll tell us all about this next one, and -what your dogs win, won't you, Mr. Hartshorn?" - -"You may depend upon that," said he. - -When the other boys learned what was afoot they all became mightily -interested in the bench-show game and in the prospects of the -Willowdale entries at New York. One or two of them had subscribed to -papers devoted to the dog fancy and these were handed about until the -boys had familiarized themselves with the names of some of the old -champions and the newer dogs of whom great things were expected. -Heated discussions ensued, but all were agreed in wishing luck to the -Willowdale dogs. - -They were a bit disappointed when they learned that Mr. Hartshorn had -decided to send down only four of the bull terriers and five -Airedales, but Tom Poultice explained the reason for this. - -"It costs five dollars for each entry of each dog, and wot's the use -of entering dogs that don't stand a chance? Ch. Earl of Norfolk is -getting old and 'e's all out of coat, and it wouldn't be fair to 'im -to show 'im that way. We've picked the ones we're going to win with." - -When Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn and Tom Poultice started out in the big -car for New York, with two of Mrs. Hartshorn's Poms on the back seat -with her, they were followed by the envious longings of most of the -boys of Boytown. But the boys did not have to wait for their return to -learn about the results of the judging. They bought New York papers -which reported the show fully, and they devoured every word of the -reports. Many of the familiar names appeared among the winners, and -the Willowdale dogs captured their full share of the honors. Even Mrs. -Hartshorn's Tip won two red ribbons, while that splendid bull terrier, -Willowdale's White Hope, was adjudged the best American-bred dog of -his breed exhibited by his breeder, and gathered up enough extra -points to secure his championship title. But the climax in their -rejoicing was reached when they read that the new Airedale, Bingo's -Queen Molly, had gone right through her classes to reserve winners in -an entry of over one hundred of the best Airedales in the United -States. - -It was, in short, a great four days for Willowdale. The Hartshorns -returned on Sunday, having arranged for the shipment of the dogs on -Saturday, and they graciously invited the whole gang up on the -following Saturday to admire the conquering heroes and their shining -trophies and to learn all about what happened from the lips of Mr. and -Mrs. Hartshorn and Tom Poultice, who, by the way, wore a grin that -appeared to have become permanent. - -"Didn't I tell you that Molly was the genooine harticle?" was his -frequently repeated comment. - -It was unthinkable that, after all this, the boys should speedily lose -interest. On the contrary, dog shows remained the foremost topic of -conversation for a month, until one day Herbie Pierson had an -inspiration. - -"Say, fellers," he exploded one morning, bursting in upon a group of -his friends in front of the schoolhouse, "let's get up a dog show of -our own." - -Just then the bell rang, which was rather unfortunate for all -concerned. The teachers found the boys strangely inattentive that day -and preoccupied, and more than one of them had to be reprimanded for -whispering or for passing notes. - -As soon as they obtained their freedom they plunged at once into a -discussion of Herbie's fascinating plan, and in an incredibly short -time they had arranged the essential details. The Easter recess was -selected as the most fitting time for the Boytown Dog Show and a -committee was appointed, consisting of Herbie Pierson, Harry Barton, -and Ernest Whipple, to select a suitable place and make the necessary -arrangements. - -After considerable discussion it was decided that the Morton barn -would make an ideal show hall, provided they could gain Mr. Morton's -consent. It was one of the largest barns in the town proper and it was -for the most part unoccupied, Mr. Morton having disposed of his horses -when he bought his car. - -Mr. Morton was the president of the First National Bank, and a -person of great dignity and importance, of whom the boys stood -somewhat in awe. But they had set their hearts on getting his barn, -and so they screwed up their courage and called on him at his home one -afternoon after banking hours. - -He turned out to be not such a formidable personage after all. In -fact, he was amused by the diffidence of the delegation that called on -him, and even more amused when Harry Barton, who had been chosen -spokesman, outlined their plan and requested the use of his barn. - -"I'll let you hold your show in my barn on two conditions," said he, -after asking several questions. "First, you must promise to clean up -thoroughly after it's all over. Second, will you allow me to enter Li -Hung Chang in competition?" - -Li Hung Chang was the blue-gray chow that followed at Mr. Morton's -heels wherever he went, spent his days at the bank, and never had a -word to say to any other dog. To this request the committee granted a -ready and joyful request. And it gave them another idea--to invite the -adult dog owners of Boytown, as well as the boys, to exhibit their -dogs. - -A meeting of the Humane Society was called to receive the report of -the committee's success and to arrange further details. It was voted -to charge an entrance fee of fifty cents for each dog shown and -twenty-five cents admission for spectators, the proceeds to be donated -to the local chapter of the Red Cross of which Mrs. Hammond was an -active member. - -Since there were hardly two dogs in Boytown of the same breed, it did -not seem possible to arrange for classes as in the big shows, so it -was decided to make it a free-for-all contest, with first, second, and -third prizes. Another committee was appointed to obtain these prizes -from Boytown merchants and to secure the services of Mr. Hartshorn as -judge. - -Mr. Hartshorn, when approached on the matter, quite readily gave his -consent, and the boys did not have great difficulty in obtaining the -prizes when they explained that the show would be for the benefit of -the Red Cross. In fact, Mr. Pierson, Herbie's father, who was a -jeweler, was unexpectedly generous. He promised a silver cup for the -first prize--not a large one, but real silver--to be engraved later -with the name of the show, the date, and the name of the winning dog. -The boys were so enthusiastically grateful for this that they -expressed the hope that Herbie's Hamlet might win the trophy himself. - -For six months past Ernest Whipple had been delivering evening papers -for Mr. Fellowes, the news dealer, and had become quite a close friend -of his employer's. This was due to the fact that Mr. Fellowes had -once had a brindle bull terrier that had met an untimely death and -whose memory ever remained fresh in his heart. The dog's name had been -Bounce, and Mr. Fellowes found in Ernest a willing listener to his -tales of Bounce's sagacity, courage, and fidelity. He was a genuine -dog lover and enjoyed having Ernest bring Romulus in to see him, for -the boy's dog nearly always accompanied him on his paper route. Mr. -Fellowes had become much interested in the activities of the Humane -Society and had become acquainted with most of the dogs of Boytown, -and when Ernest told him about the plan for a show he expressed a wish -to have some part in it. Ernest was not a member of the prize -committee, but when he reported that Mr. Fellowes wished to donate a -dog collar, it was unanimously voted to accept it as second prize. The -third prize was a twenty-pound box of dog biscuit offered by Mr. -Dewey, the grocer. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE BOYTOWN DOG SHOW - - -The Boytown Dog Show was scheduled for Wednesday of Easter week, and -the days preceding it were busy ones for the members of the Boytown -Humane Society. They called on every owner of a dog in town, both boys -and grown-ups, and succeeded in obtaining entry fees from a good -proportion of them. In the end, they had twenty-six entries, ranging -from Herbie Pierson's Great Dane down to Mrs. Peabody's little Peke, -and they saw to it that every one of these dogs was benched on the day -of the show. - -On Monday morning the citizens of Boytown were amused to find tacked -to trees, billboards, and telephone poles in different parts of the -town a score or more home-made posters announcing the show, and -advertisements appeared in the local papers. The posters were somewhat -crudely done, perhaps, in red and black ink, but they left no doubt as -to their import, and it is safe to say that there wasn't a single -resident of Boytown who did not soon know of the coming exhibition. -The posters read as follows: - - BOYTOWN DOG SHOW! - - _Morton's Barn, Henry Street._ - - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12. - - 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. - - Come and see the finest dogs in Boytown. 26 dogs--21 breeds. - First, second, and third prizes will be awarded to the best - dogs. Mr. Merton Hartshorn, proprietor of the famous Willowdale - Kennels, will act as judge. Judging will begin at 2.30 P.M. - Prizes will be awarded at 4 P.M. - - ADMISSION, 25 CENTS. - - The proceeds will be given to the - Red Cross. - -The question of Dick Wheaton gave the boys a little trouble. They -didn't like Dick, he was not a member of the Humane Society, and some -of the boys thought he ought to be barred out because of his -well-known disposition to be unkind to animals. Besides, he had been -openly making fun of the whole proceeding. Being divided in the -matter, they sought Mrs. Hammond's advice. - -"I should let him enter Gyp if he will," said she. "It can't do you -any harm, and it may help to get Dick a little more interested in dogs -and in the Humane Society. Besides, it isn't Dick that's going to be -benched, but Gyp, and you haven't anything against Gyp." - -Put in that way, it did seem unfair to bar out an unoffending dog, who -deserved nothing but sympathy, just because his master was not -popular. So Gyp became one of the twenty-six. Mr. Hartshorn refused to -consider bringing down any of his dogs, and the boys were rather glad -of that, for it would hardly be a fair competition if the ordinary -dogs of Boytown were obliged to compete with the winners of -Willowdale. It was too much like introducing professionals into an -amateur contest. - -"Besides," said Mr. Hartshorn, "it would be highly improper for a -judge to have to judge his own dogs. It isn't done, you know." - -So that matter was satisfactorily settled. Mrs. Hartshorn was invited -to enter her toys, but she declined on the ground that this was a -Boytown show and they were Thornboro dogs. As for Sam Bumpus, he said -that a shoemaker had best stick to his last, and that a trainer of gun -dogs had no business to be mixing up with bench shows. - -Meanwhile, the original committee had been busy getting the show hall -into shape. Enough boards were obtained from here, there, and -everywhere to make two long benches, one along each side of the barn, -stoutly built and standing about two feet from the floor. These were -divided off by partitions into enough stalls to accommodate all the -dogs entered, and a coat of whitewash made the whole look clean and -neat. - -At the inner end of the barn the amateur carpenters erected a ring of -posts, connected by a rope. This was where the judging was to take -place. Finally, a cashier's booth was made out of a large dry-goods -box and placed at the entrance, and Theron Hammond was elected to -stand there and receive the admission fees, as he was the treasurer of -the Humane Society. Frank Stoddard, who had no dog to show, but who -was as much interested as any of them, was appointed to purchase tins -for drinking water and to keep them filled during the show. - -The last thing they placed cedar shavings from the planing mill in -each of the stalls, arranged hooks to fasten the leashes to, and -tacked to the wall above each place a card bearing the name, breed, -and owner of the dog that was to occupy it. So far as possible, they -arranged the dogs in accordance with their size. When it came to -Rags's card, they were a bit puzzled, for Mr. Hartshorn had told them -that Rags didn't belong to any recognized breed. But it didn't seem -fair to Rags to leave the space blank, so they invented a name for his -breed--wire-haired American terrier. - -On the morning of the great show Jack Whipple awoke early and jumped -out of bed. - -"Ernest!" he cried, and there was gloom in his voice. - -"What is it?" asked Ernest, sleepily. - -"It's raining," said Jack. - -"Oh, dear!" groaned Ernest. - -But they hurried through their breakfast, nevertheless, and taking -Romulus and Remus they hastened down to Morton's barn. They found that -the other members of the society were equally unafraid of a little -rain, but they were all a bit depressed. The prospect for a successful -show did not seem very bright. However, since all the arrangements had -been made, the boys decided that the only thing to do was to go ahead. -Other exhibitors arrived, some of them planning to spend the day with -their pets, but it was ten o'clock before Theron Hammond took in a -single admission fee. Furthermore, Mrs. Peabody and one or two other -timid exhibitors had failed to put in an appearance, and special -messengers had to be despatched to fetch them. - -It was just as well, perhaps, that the boys had this extra time to put -on the finishing touches, for the dogs were not used to this sort of -confinement and made a good deal of trouble before they could be -quieted. Then a special shelf had to be built for the display of the -prizes. The boys were so busy, in fact, that they hardly noticed that -the rain had ceased. About eleven o'clock Theron gave a glad cry. - -"The sun's coming out," he announced. "And here comes a gang of -people." - -From that time on the spectators arrived in a steady stream, until the -barn became quite crowded and the dogs were much excited. The members -of the society acted as ushers and entertained their visitors with -more or less learned lectures on the different breeds. And for the -most part the spectators appeared to be hugely pleased with the whole -performance, boys and dogs included. - -But the center of attraction turned out to be a dog that everyone knew -didn't stand a show for even third prize. It was comical old Rags. He -seemed to be enjoying the show more than anybody else in the place and -to feel that the Red Cross needed his services as an entertainer. He -was ready with uplifted paw to greet every visitor that stopped in -front of his bench and he never failed to bring a smile to the face of -the least interested. You couldn't see Rags without loving him, his -eyes were so merry, his smile so broad and warm, his crooked ears so -absurdly fascinating. He got as much patting and petting that day as -some dogs get in a lifetime, and it seemed to him, at least, that a -dog show was a most excellent kind of institution. Some of the dogs -didn't take to it in so kindly a manner. Mr. O'Brien, in fact, became -quite ill tempered before the day was over. - -To say that Jimmie Rogers was pleased is not overstating the truth. He -was prouder of Rags than if he had won all the silver cups in -Christendom, and he kept busy most of the day putting Rags through his -many tricks. - -The boys went home to dinner in relays, and by two o'clock the crowd -was even larger. They were curious to see what the judging would be -like. Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn and Tom Poultice arrived in the -automobile, and after they had inspected the dogs, many of whom knew -them, Mr. Hartshorn announced that the judging would begin. - -"Ladies and gentlemen," said he. "If you will kindly give me your -attention, and if Monty Hubbard will be good enough to sit on Mr. -O'Brien's head, I will explain the manner in which the judging will be -conducted. When I call out the names, the owners will please bring -their dogs to the ring. I will inspect them in groups of five. I will -make a note of the best dogs in these groups, and will then ask to see -some of them a second time in order to determine for certain which -are, in my judgment, the best dogs." - -Beginning with Hamlet, he called for the first five dogs in the row, -and proceeded thus until, in the last group, six were judged. He -went at it in a businesslike manner, examining each dog carefully, and -making jottings in a notebook. When asked about his basis for judging -the dogs, he promised to explain that when he announced the winners. -Each owner held his or her own dog in the ring, making him walk past -the judge when so requested, and it all went smoothly until the third -group came to be judged. Then, before anyone knew what had happened, -the overwrought Mr. O'Brien had made an angry lunge at Li Hung Chang, -and there was something doing in the show ring. The chow was not -lacking in courage and returned the attack, while the other three dogs -struggled vainly to mix in. Some of the ladies in the audience -screamed, and it required the combined efforts of Mr. Hartshorn, Mr. -Morton, Tom Poultice, and Monty Hubbard to separate the antagonists -and straighten things out again. Mr. O'Brien was unsatisfied and -snarled ominously, but it made him look all the more spirited during -the judging. After that there were no untoward events to mar the -occasion. - -By the time Mr. Hartshorn had had some of the dogs up a second and -even a third time it was nearly four o'clock, the hour set for -announcing the winners. The place was crowded now, and not a little -speculation was heard as to the judge's probable decisions. Among the -boys, at least, this interest in the outcome amounted to tense -excitement, in which some of the grown-ups were not ashamed to share. - -At length Mr. Hartshorn came to the rope and addressed the gathering. - -"Ladies and gentlemen," said he: "you are all waiting, I know, to -learn the names of the winning dogs, but first I think I ought to -offer a few words of explanation. Let me say that we have some very -good dogs here to-day. They might not measure up to the standard set -in the big shows, but they are very good representatives of the -various breeds. Since it is necessary to compare dogs of different -breeds instead of dogs of the same breed in judging, it is not -altogether easy to reach a decision on comparative merits. I can only -rely upon my best judgment and will ask you to be indulgent with me in -case you do not agree with my choice. - -"In judging dogs at a show, we do not take into consideration the -personal character or intelligence of a dog, but chiefly his physical -characteristics. He must not appear stupid, and he must show the -qualities of character attributed to his breed. A sleepy terrier, for -instance, cannot win in a show. Beyond that, however, it is a matter -of what is called type. Authorities have carefully gone over the -points that are typical of each breed and have written them out in -what are called the standards. Winning dogs must conform very -largely to the type described in the standard, and the more of the -established points he can show in perfect form, the higher will be his -score in selecting his position among the winners. I cannot take your -time to describe all these points in each case, but simply state that -my judging is on that basis. - -"It is an arbitrary method, I grant you, and there are good people who -protest against judging dogs in accordance with their physical -features, not taking into account the qualities of heart and brain -that we really care for in a dog. But that is the fancier's way of -getting at it. If we did not have arbitrary and approved standards to -work toward in breeding, every breeder would work out his own personal -ideas, and we would have a strange assortment of sizes and shapes and -no predominant type in any breed. It is the work of the fanciers that -has produced the marked differences between the breeds and that keeps -them from degenerating into a sorry lot of mixed mongrels, until we -should not be able to tell a collie from a St. Bernard. - -"I trust that this brief explanation will give you an idea of the -basis of my judgment in this show. I have given the preference not to -the wisest and most capable and most affectionate dogs, but to those -that most nearly approach the approved standards of their breeds. I -will now ask to have the following dogs brought to the ring: Mr. -Sanderson's German shepherd dog, Rupert of Hentzau; Mrs. Peabody's -Pekingese spaniel, Chi Yen; Herbert Pierson's Great Dane, Hamlet; -Harry Barton's English bulldog, Mike; Montague Hubbard's Irish -terrier, Mr. O'Brien (keep him on a short leash, Monty); Jack -Whipple's English setter, Remus." - -All of these dogs have been previously mentioned except Rupert. Both -he and his master were newcomers in Boytown, and the big, strong, -active dog, with his wolfish look, his erect ears, and his brave, -bright eyes, had attracted a good deal of attention at the show. When -the six dogs had been brought again into the ring, Mr. Hartshorn -continued his discourse. - -"I believe," said he, "that all of these dogs should receive honorable -mention, or, as we call it at the shows, the V. H. C.--very highly -commended. They all possess points of excellence, but all fall short -in some particulars. Rupert of Hentzau looks like a perfect dog, but -if you were to compare him with the best of his breed you would see -that he is a little too short in the head, too flat-sided, and too -leggy. Chi Yen measures up pretty well, but she hasn't a good color -and her coat isn't quite as profuse as it should be. Hamlet's feet and -ankles are bad. This is often the case with big dogs that grew fast -when they were puppies. Their bones do not strengthen fast enough to -bear their increasing weight, and the result is apt to be flat feet, -turning out, and bent ankles. Hamlet is a bit thin, too, but is -otherwise a good Dane. In the English bulldog classes, the preference -is generally given to the extreme types. A dog with wider elbows, -deeper chest, and a heavier jaw would beat Mike easily. Mr. O'Brien -has Irish terrier character a-plenty, but he is a bit too large and -coarse, as the expression is, and his coat is too long and soft and -too light in color. Remus will make a fine dog some day, I believe, -but he has had hard luck thus far and he hasn't grown up quite evenly. -He needs strengthening in the shoulders and he is out of coat. His -tail is a bit stringy. With proper care, I believe these defects can -be obviated. I take pleasure in conferring the V. H. C. on these six -dogs." - -They were led out of the ring amid the applause of the spectators, -which somewhat softened the disappointment of their owners in not -taking prizes. When Mr. Hartshorn called for the three dogs that were -to receive the honors of the show, the applause increased. In answer -to their names, Theron Hammond, Ernest Whipple, and Dick Wheaton -brought their dogs proudly to the ring. Mr. Hartshorn took the -handsome silver cup from its shelf and held it up where all might see. - -"It gives me great pleasure," he announced, "to confer the first -prize upon Alert, Boston terrier, owned by Theron Hammond." - -Theron stepped forward, blushing violently and smiling broadly, and -took the trophy from the hands of the judge. Then he stooped down -impulsively and picked Alert up, hugging him in his arms, to which -demonstration Alert replied by gently chewing his master's ear. When -the hand-clapping had died down, Mr. Hartshorn continued: - -"I will not spoil this triumph by pointing out Alert's defects. He -would very likely meet his superiors in one of the big shows, for the -Boston terrier entries are always very large, but I don't think he -would be entirely out of the running in a novice class. I understand -he is a registered and pedigreed dog, and he certainly shows evidences -of good breeding. In my judgment he comes closer to his breed's -standard than any other dog in this show. - -"The second prize, this handsome dog collar, is won by Romulus, -English setter, owned by Ernest Whipple. He is a litter brother of -Remus, but he is better developed and has a better coat. He is a -first-class specimen of the Llewellyn type, and though there are a few -points in which he falls below the strict bench-show standard, he is a -splendid setter. - -"The third prize, which will perhaps be better appreciated by its -recipient than any of the others, is a box of dog biscuit. I hope, -however, that it will not form his sole diet, as he is doubtless -accustomed to a more varied and palatable menu. This prize is won by -Gypsie, smooth fox terrier, owned by Richard Wheaton. Gyp is a little -off type in some respects, but I have decided that, according to my -score of points, he is the third best dog in the show." - -[Illustration: Boston Terrier] - -Mr. Hartshorn bowed and withdrew, while Mrs. Hartshorn remarked to a -friend that she didn't believe he had ever made such a long speech -before in his life. The spectators crowded around the winners to -congratulate the three boys and to pat and admire their dogs. More -than one person in that barn had his or her eyes opened that day for -the first time to the points of excellence of dog-flesh. Still, there -were some who stepped back to the bench where Rags sat, an -uncomprehending spectator, and assured him that he was the best dog in -the show after all, and that he would have received the silver cup if -they had been the judges. Ernest and Theron had never known a happier -day of triumph, and even Dick Wheaton, who had received his prize with -a supercilious smile, appeared to be a bit softened for the time being -and to show some pride in his ownership of the much-abused Gyp. - -There were, indeed, some heart-burnings among the losers. Herbie -Pierson, for one, had had high hopes of Hamlet. But they had all -agreed to accept the outcome like good sports and they could not -remain long despondent in the face of the success of their show. As -for Jack Whipple, the youngest exhibitor of all, he displayed a spirit -that the others would have been ashamed not to follow. He was frankly -pleased at the success of Romulus, and stoutly asserted that Remus -would have his big day yet. Mr. Fellowes was as much pleased as Ernest -was, and privately confided to him that he was glad Romulus didn't get -first prize, as he would have been disappointed to see any other dog -wearing that collar. - -The people were beginning to file out of the barn, after a final -tour of the benches, when Mr. Hartshorn, standing beside the cashier's -booth, once more called for order. - -"As you know," he said in his strong voice, "the proceeds of this show -are to be given to the Red Cross, and you may be interested to learn -just how much has been netted for that good cause by to-day's unique -effort on the part of the Boytown Humane Society. The treasurer, -Theron Hammond, has been busy with arithmetic for the past twenty -minutes and has an announcement to make." - -Theron was suddenly stricken with stage fright, but he did not attempt -to make a speech. He merely read the figures of his report. - -"Entry fees for 26 dogs," he read, "$13.00. Attendance, 242. Gate -receipts, $60.50. Total receipts, $73.50. Advertising, $8.00. Other -expenses, $2.67. Total expense, $10.67. Net proceeds, $62.83." - -"I wonder," remarked Mr. Hartshorn to his wife, "if a dozen women -could knit $62.83 worth of mufflers in one day." - -The exhibitors began taking their weary dogs home and the boys started -the cleaning-up process that was part of their bargain with Mr. -Morton. And so the great day ended. - -The only fly in the ointment of Ernest and Jack Whipple was the fact -that, although their father had been an enthusiastic spectator -throughout the greater part of the afternoon, their mother had not -seen fit to attend. She was very busy, she said, and anyway, dogs did -not particularly interest her. - -Next morning the two local papers contained full accounts of the show, -to the extent of a column or more, and they treated it as one of the -season's events of Boytown, giving the names of all the dogs and their -owners and a complete report of the awards, besides the treasurer's -report. One of them even published an editorial praising the work of -the Humane Society and suggesting that the town should be proud of its -boys and its dogs. Mr. Whipple and the boys devoured the contents of -these papers eagerly before breakfast. After breakfast they found Mrs. -Whipple reading one of them in the sitting-room. - -"What are you reading, mother?" asked Mr. Whipple, but she was so -absorbed that she did not answer for a time. - -At length she murmured, half to herself, "Hm! I don't see yet why -Remus didn't get a prize." - -Whereat, it must be related, Mr. Whipple turned and winked at the boys -in a most undignified manner. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -CAMP BRITCHES - - -Spring came, and with it more training for Romulus, until Sam -pronounced him a fairly well-broken bird dog. May drifted into June -and June into July. Another school year came to a close and another -long vacation period began. The great dog show was now a thing of -ancient history and things were a bit slow in Boytown. It appeared -essential to the happiness and welfare of numerous boys and dogs that -something new should be undertaken. - -It was Jimmie Rogers who suggested it, though there were a dozen -active, eager minds ready to seize upon the idea and develop it. They -were sitting on the bank of the swimming hole near the brickyard, -resting after an hour's swim and warming themselves in the sun. The -dogs were either wandering restlessly about in search of new -adventures, or were stretched out at their masters' feet. The boys -were somewhat languidly discussing the events of the Glorious Fourth -just past, and bemoaning the fact that another one would be so long in -coming. - -"Fourth o' July's all right," remarked Jimmie, "but I think the most -fun in the whole world is camping out." - -"Ho!" scoffed Harry Barton. "When did you ever go camping out?" - -"I camped out one night with my father in an old shack over Oakdale -way," asserted Jimmie. - -"That isn't camping out," said Harry. "Camping out is living in a tent -in the woods all summer, catching your own fish and cooking your own -grub and--and everything." - -"Did you ever do that?" demanded Jimmie. - -Harry was forced to admit that he never did. - -"Gee, I wish we could all go camping out this summer," said Ernest -Whipple. "It would be great fun to take the dogs along." - -"Well, why can't we?" inquired Jimmie. - -Many of the boys held inwardly a well-founded notion that there would -be serious parental objections to a plan of this kind, but their ready -imaginations caught fire at the idea and they were soon in the midst -of a lively discussion of plans that gradually settled down from the -wild and fantastic to the faintly feasible. When they separated that -afternoon it was with the hopeful belief that they were going to -organize a camping expedition. - -The expected parental opposition developed promptly and decidedly, but -when a dozen American boys get their hearts set on anything short of -discovering the North Pole something is sure to happen. They did not -quickly abandon their rosy project and they set about conquering the -opposition by means of a determined siege. - -The chief point of objection, of course, which indeed appeared -insurmountable, was the natural belief on the part of parents that it -would not be safe or wise to let their boys leave home and go camping -out without the guardianship of some older person. No arguments could -be invented to prevail against this. But help came from an unexpected -quarter. - -Theron Hammond's older brother, Alfred, a student at Yale and a -steady, reliable sort of fellow, was spending his summer at home and -was finding Boytown a bit dull after the activities of Junior year at -college. One evening, when Theron had broached the subject for the -fortieth time and his father had once more given a firm refusal, -Alfred put in his oar. - -"Aw, father," said he, "let him go and give us a little peace in the -house. It won't hurt him." - -"But, Alfred," said his father, "you know very well it would never do -to let those boys go off alone. None of the parents would permit it." - -"Suppose Horace and I went with them," suggested Alfred. Horace Ames -was a classmate of Alfred's who was also languishing in summer -idleness in Boytown. - -That put another face on the matter entirely. It must not be supposed -that the victory was won at once, however. It required two weeks more -of the siege to win capitulation all along the line. But the boys -conquered at last. They liked and admired the college students and -accepted their alliance with enthusiastic acclaim. Alfred talked it -over with his chum, and the more they discussed it the more they felt -that the conducting of this boy-and-dog camp would be great fun. -Horace had brought home with him from New Haven the ugliest-looking -and gentlest-tempered bulldog ever seen in the streets of Boytown. His -name was Eli and Horace vowed he would give Eli the pleasure of -camping out with the other dogs of Boytown. Eli was in training as a -football mascot, and Horace asserted that a summer experience of this -sort was just what he needed. - -As their interest in the project grew, Alfred and Horace decided to -take an active part in the campaign, and they called personally on -every one of the doubting parents. Little by little they won them over -until at last the success of the plan was assured. Mrs. Whipple was -the last to give way, but Mr. Whipple had already been enlisted in the -cause and he proved, as ever, a loyal advocate. - -"You must remember, mother," said he, "that Jack is eleven years old -now." - -"Yes," said she, dubiously. In her eyes Jack was still a rosy-cheeked -baby. - -"It is never too soon for boys to gain self-reliance," said Mr. -Whipple. "This camp will do Jack a lot of good, and Ernest, too. -They'll have to hold their own on a common footing with the other -boys, which is what they must do in later life. And Alfred and Horace -are as reliable and trustworthy a pair of young fellows as I know. -They won't let anything happen to our boys." - -So at last even Mrs. Whipple granted a reluctant consent, and fourteen -boys, besides the two older ones, were at last enrolled as members of -the expedition. At first it had been understood that the camp was to -include only members of the Humane Society, and would be a sort of -club outing, but Mrs. Hammond suggested that the invitation be -extended to include also any boy in town who owned a dog, on the -ground that this might serve to recruit new members for the society. -Alfred seconded this. - -"The more the merrier," said he. - -So the invitation was sent abroad and had already been accepted in two -cases when the troublesome question of Dick Wheaton again arose. The -boys didn't want Dick at the camp, and Dick evinced no interest in -the project, but the bars had been let down and there seemed to be no -good excuse for not admitting Dick. Mrs. Hammond advised them to -invite him, but before they had done so, the matter was taken out of -their hands; the difficulty was solved for them. - -One night Gyp, tired of his ill treatment, heartbroken, hopeless of -ever being able to win his master's true affection, and doubtless -seeking a happier home, ran away and was never again seen in Boytown. -So Dick, since he no longer owned a dog, was automatically eliminated, -much to the relief of those who did not want him. It seemed a just -retribution that he should lose the creature that loved him so, but it -is doubtful if Dick cared very much. - -"I only hope," said Mrs. Hammond, when she was told about it, "that -this will teach Dick a lesson and that poor Gyp will find a good -master and pass the rest of his days in peace and happiness. He is a -dear, loving little dog, and he deserves it." - -Including Eli, there were fourteen dogs in the party, which was more -than had at first been counted on, for not all the members of the -Humane Society were dog owners, though the outsiders all had to be. It -happened in this way: Frank Stoddard had long been pleading with his -parents to be allowed to have a dog, and at last they surrendered and -gave him one on his birthday. Mr. Stoddard believed in doing nothing -by halves and so he purchased a really fine young collie, sable and -white, named MacTavish, and usually called Mac for short. So Frank had -a canine companion for the camp and his cup of joy was full. - -And there was still another new dog in town. Elliot Garfield's uncle, -who knew of the boy's earnest desire to own a dog, sent him early in -August an Old English sheepdog. The uncle wrote that he was going to -travel a bit, and that if Elliot would guarantee to give his dog a -good home, he might have him for his own. You may believe that Elliot -was not slow in agreeing to that proposition. It was a pedigreed dog, -named Darley's Launcelot of Middlesex. That was a name no one could be -expected to use in calling a dog, and even Launcelot seemed a bit -strange. So Elliot, who possibly lacked originality, rechristened him -Rover. - -Most of the residents of Boytown had never seen an Old English -sheepdog before, and Rover attracted not a little attention on the -street. Some people even laughed at his big round head, with hair over -his eyes, and his shambling gait and lack of a tail, but they soon got -used to him and came to admire his wonderful gray and white coat. And -Rover turned out to be one of the jolliest dog companions in Boytown. -He loved the water, and when he got his coat thoroughly wet he -seemed to shrink to half his normal size. He was really not much -bigger than Romulus, but when his hair was dry and all fluffed out he -looked as big as a Newfoundland. - -With Rover and Mac added to the party, it began to look like a pretty -big affair, as indeed it was. Alfred and Horace entered into the -spirit of the thing with zest and arranged for the tents and general -equipment. They had both been camping in the Adirondacks, and they -knew just what was needed. So they drew up a list of the things each -boy must provide for himself--warm blankets, a bag to be stuffed with -sweet fern for a pillow, mosquito netting, and an aluminum plate, -bowl, and cup for each boy, a dish for his dog, knives, forks, spoons, -etc., besides the requisite clothing and toilet articles. It was all -done very systematically. - -There was one thing that bothered Alfred and Horace, and that was the -cooking. They ordered a store of supplies, the boys having all -contributed to a fund for that purpose, but that did not solve the -problem of three meals a day. The boys had been inclined to pass over -this detail somewhat lightly, but Alfred and Horace knew from -experience that feeding a dozen hungry boys was no joke, and they -didn't intend to have their vacation spoiled by the necessity of -turning to themselves and doing all the work. - -One day Mr. Morton stopped Alfred Hammond on the street and asked him -how the plans for the camp were progressing. - -"Everything is going finely," said Alfred, "except for two things. We -shall have to postpone our start for a day or two because the tents -haven't come yet. Then there's the question of the cooking. I'm -blessed if I know how that gang of youngsters is going to be fed." - -Mr. Morton stood and thought a moment. - -"Maybe I can help you out," he said at length. "I'm just starting off -on a little vacation myself, and I've been wondering what I'd do with -Moses." (Moses was Mr. Morton's colored man-about-the-place.) "I -haven't enough to keep him busy during my absence and it wouldn't do -for him to fall into habits of idleness. How would you like to take -Moses along with you, and guarantee to keep him out of mischief? He -was once an assistant chef or something in a summer hotel, and I -believe he's a first-rate cook. His services would cost you nothing, -because I have to keep up his wages anyway. I'd be mighty glad to know -that he was being kept busy." - -"Say, that's mighty white of you, Mr. Morton," said Alfred. "Moses for -ours. He's just what we need." - -So that matter was settled. Mr. Morton explained to Moses just what -was required of him, and Moses became a not unwilling member of the -party. - -The tents, which had been ordered from New York, came at last. There -were two of them, good-sized ones, each capable of accommodating seven -of the younger boys and one of the older ones. Horace Ames had a small -tent of his own which would serve for Moses. On the appointed day the -boys congregated at the Whipples' stable, each bringing his personal -equipment strapped up in his blanket. The camp site that had been -chosen was at Mallard Lake, about nine miles from Boytown, and two -wagons with drivers had been engaged to convey the outfit. - -Presently one of these wagons appeared, containing Moses, Alfred, -Horace, the tents, a stack of old lumber, a box of cooking utensils, -and a second-hand kitchen range, besides a number of boxes containing -provisions. When the boys had heaved their personal belongings aboard -it made a big load. Then the human part of the expedition loaded -itself into the second wagon, with much laughter and skylarking, and -the party was ready to start. The dogs were allowed to run alongside, -and a lively pack they were. Mrs. Whipple, with a look of anxiety -still on her face, came to the gate to wave good-by. - -They arrived at Mallard Lake about noon, and after unloading and -sending back the wagons, they sat down to partake of the picnic -lunch that each had brought with him. Then came the task of pitching -camp. It was no small thing to accomplish before dark, but there were -many hands to engage in it and efficient leadership. - -The camp was located in some pine woods that ran down close to the -shore of the lake. On the other side of a little cape was a sandy -beach that looked like a good swimming place. Across the lake there -were two or three farmhouses, where the leaders had arranged for -supplies of milk, eggs, butter, bread, and baked beans. All the -available floating craft on the lake had been hired, and three -rowboats and a canoe lay drawn up on the bank. A little way back in -the woods was a spring of clear, pure, cold water for drinking -purposes, and a pool where the milk and butter could be kept fresh. - -The leaders told the boys, however, that they would have to wait -another day before indulging in an exploration of the surroundings of -the camp. There was much to be done before night, and all must get to -work. The two tents were pitched on a little rise of ground back from -the water, and each boy was set to work gathering balsam boughs for -his bed. These were strewn a foot thick on the ground inside the tents -and the blankets were spread upon them, each boy being assigned his -place. They also stuffed their pillows with balsam, waiting till -another day to gather the fragrant sweet ferns in a near-by pasture. -Each boy also cut stakes and drove them into the ground about his bed -to hold his mosquito netting. Ropes were strung overhead to hold -clothing, and there were two lanterns for each tent. - -Moses, meantime, had pitched his own tent and made his own bed, and -now they all turned to to help him knock together a rough shack to -serve as cook house and pantry. Then a long dining table and benches -were built and a frame erected over them on which was spread an old -awning. The range was set up in the cook house, the provisions were -stored away, firewood was cut, and Moses started preparations for -supper. Soon a fragrant smoke was issuing from the stovepipe, which -before long was mingled with the smell of frying bacon and other -things cooking that made every boy acutely aware of his appetite. -Still Alfred and Horace kept them at work, cleaning up around camp, -laying a stone foundation for a campfire, and erecting a lean-to -shelter for the dogs in stormy weather, for it was voted not to allow -the dogs to come into the tents. - -Moses made good his reputation as a cook, and a prodigious amount of -provender disappeared at supper that night. The boys were in high -spirits and so were the dogs. The latter, not yet accustomed to their -new surroundings, and not realizing that they were to stay there, -were restless and excitable and gave some trouble, but they were at -last persuaded to quiet down. It was decided to tie them to the -lean-to for a few nights until they should learn the rules and -regulations. - -After supper, while the boys were gathering brushwood for a campfire, -Jimmie Rogers hoisted the camp ensign, which created a roar of -laughter. I must explain about this ensign and the name of the camp. - -Some time before they had discussed the subject of naming the camp, -but could agree on nothing. Mrs. Hammond had suggested Camp B. H. S., -the letters being the initials of the Boytown Humane Society. This did -not fully please the popular fancy, and yet they did not like to -discard Mrs. Hammond's suggestion. They began trying to find a word or -words in some way made up of B. H. S. Alfred Hammond suggested Camp -Beeches. That sounded something like B. H. S., he said, and they would -very likely find beech trees about the camp. They adopted this name -for want of a better one, until Jimmie, in a moment of inspiration, -changed it to Camp Breeches. This name really had no very deep -meaning, but somehow it tickled the boys and it stuck, being still -further revised in process of use to Camp Britches. The ensign which -Jimmie tied to a sapling in front of the camp was an old pair of boy's -trousers. - -It would require a whole book to tell of all the episodes that went to -make up the life of Camp Britches during the next week, of the fishing -and swimming, the exploring expeditions and berrying parties, of how -the boys built a landing wharf for the boats and a diving raft, and -how they divided up the routine duties of the camp. Some of these -episodes were glorious fun; some were not so pleasant; taken all -together they made up a memorable experience. Moses proved to be a -master at making griddle cakes and other good things, and once or -twice a boy ate not wisely but too well, and required the attention of -the camp physician, Horace Ames. But for the most part they were -healthy and happy, and incidentally they learned many things about -looking out for themselves. - -One night a thunderstorm broke, a veritable cloudburst, and the boys -had to put on their bathing trunks and go out and dig deeper trenches -around the tents to keep the water from running in and soaking -everything. On another occasion a high wind blew one of the tents down -on its sleeping inmates, causing more fright than damage. - -Perhaps the best part of it all was the evening campfire. By that time -the boys were physically sufficiently weary to enjoy resting, and, the -pangs of hunger being well satisfied through the ministrations of -Moses, they would light their pile of brushwood and lie about it, -wrapped in blankets on the cool nights, and watch the flames and -fondle their dogs, and gossip drowsily. Sometimes there was story -telling, at which Albert Hammond was an artist. And one afternoon Sam -Bumpus came by special invitation, walking all the way from his shack, -and that evening they had stirring tales of moose and deer hunting in -Maine. - -Then, of course, there were always the dogs. Sometimes it seemed as -though there were too many of them, and it was necessary to make each -boy strictly accountable for the actions of his own. Mr. O'Brien was a -constant source of trouble and unrest, and there were times when it -almost seemed as though they would have to send him home. Still, -everybody liked Mr. O'Brien, after all. Wicked as he was, he was as -smart as a whip and he had a way of worming into your affections in -spite of you. Romulus and Remus had to be watched because of a -tendency to go roaming off together on hunting expeditions of their -own. Rags was, as ever, a general favorite and heaps of fun, and -Rover, the Old English sheepdog, proved to be almost as playful and -humorous. He was wonderfully active for a dog who appeared to be so -clumsy. He could hold his own in a scrap, too, as Mr. O'Brien learned -to his sorrow. In aquatic sports, Rover shone. - -Speaking of the dogs, there came a night when one of them nearly upset -the entire camp. It was the handsome collie, MacTavish. He strayed -away from camp in the evening and managed to get into trouble with a -little animal that is sometimes found in the woods whose method of -defense is peculiar. It was a black and white skunk. MacTavish -returned, very unhappy, just as the boys were getting to sleep. -Seeking help and consolation in his distress, he entered the tent -where his master lay. In less time than it takes to tell it every -inmate of that tent was out in the open air. Moses and Horace took the -collie down to the lake, washed him as thoroughly as they could with -strong tar soap, and then tied him out in the woods where the poor -unfortunate's howls disturbed the camp's rest all night. They could -not send him home, and it was two or three days before he was entirely -fit for human companionship again. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE PASSING OF RAGS - - -Camp Britches was pitched on a Wednesday, and the first week flew by -on winged feet. On the second Saturday an event occurred which the -boys had been looking forward to with anticipation. Mr. Hartshorn came -in his car to spend Sunday at the camp. He brought none of his dogs -with him, which was a source of regret, but he was a most welcome -visitor, nevertheless. - -The boys feared that the appointments of their camp might not be quite -elegant enough for a man like Mr. Hartshorn, but he fitted in as -though he had been brought up to just that sort of thing and said it -was all bully. Frank Stoddard moved out and crowded into the other -tent, and a special bed was laid for the visitor. Moses outdid himself -in planning his Sunday menu. - -Mr. Hartshorn arrived too late to be shown about the lake that day, -but supper was a jolly meal and a new interest was added to the -campfire hour that night. - -Mr. Hartshorn had shown considerable interest in MacTavish and Rover, -both of whom he pronounced to be fine dogs, and this led to a -general discussion of sheepdogs and their kin. - -"I wish you'd tell us something about bob-tails, Mr. Hartshorn," said -Elliot Garfield. "I really don't know a thing about them, and I ought -to, now I've got one." - -"Please do," echoed Ernest Whipple. "You promised you'd tell us about -the shepherd breeds sometime." - -"Well," said Mr. Hartshorn, laughing, "it's pretty near bedtime, -anyway, so if I put you to sleep it won't much matter. For my own -part, though, I'd rather listen to another of Alfred's stories." - -The night was chilly, so he went to his car and got his auto robe, -wrapped himself up in it, lighted a cigar, and settled himself -comfortably beside the campfire. - -"You may have noticed," he began, "that some breeds of dogs seem to -possess more individual character than others. Foxhounds, for example, -seem to me a good deal alike. That is because they live and work -mostly in packs. It is the constant association of a single dog with -his master that develops the traits of personality in him. No dogs -have had this personality more highly developed than the shepherd -breeds, for they have been the shepherds' personal companions, often -their only companions, for generations. They are, therefore, most -interesting dogs to know and to talk about. - -"Of these shepherd breeds the best known is the collie. It is, in -fact, one of the most popular and numerous of all the breeds. The -modern collie, of which Mac here is a good example, has been developed -for beauty, as a show dog and companion rather than a working dog, but -he is a direct descendant of the old working collie of the Scottish -Highlands, which has been a distinct breed and has been used as a -shepherd's dog for centuries. The old working collie or shepherd dog, -which is still numerous in Scotland, is a splendid utility animal of -great intelligence and initiative, brave as a lion, and trained to -guard sheep. - -"Though a straight development without much crossing with other -breeds, the modern collie is almost a different variety, with a -narrower head and muzzle, better pointed ears, and a fuller and finer -coat. From the fancier's point of view he is a great improvement on -the working dog, and he certainly is handsomer, but in my own humble -opinion the fanciers are well-nigh ruining the splendid character of -one of the best breeds of dogs ever given to man. For one thing, they -have made the head so narrow and snipey, imitating that of the Russian -wolfhound, that they have left insufficient room in the skull for all -the brains the old collie used to possess. And with this fineness of -breeding has come some uncertainty of disposition. The modern collie -isn't usually given a chance to learn the things his forefathers knew, -so how can we expect the same mental development? Mac, I am glad to -say, is not of the extreme type. He would doubtless be beaten in the -shows, but he is a better dog, for all that. The older type used to be -more common here, but has gradually been driven out by the show type -which began to be taken up about 1880. - -[Illustration: Collie] - -"The Scotch are great people for dog stories, and a good many of their -tales are about collies. Bob, Son of Battle, was an old-fashioned -collie. Many of the anecdotes that are told as true stories deal -with the breed's wonderful sagacity in caring for sheep. There was the -Ettrick Shepherd's famous collie Sirrah, for example. He could -undoubtedly do amazing things with sheep. One night something scared -the lambs, and they started off for the hills, dividing into three -groups. The shepherd called his dog and his assistant and started out -in the hope of rounding up at least one of the groups before morning. -But the night was dark and the hills a wilderness, and the two men -were at last forced to give up the attempt until daylight. At dawn, -when they started out again, what was their astonishment to see Sirrah -coming in with the lost lambs--not one group only, but the whole -flock. How he managed to get one group after the other, no one could -ever say, but between midnight and dawn he rounded them all up alone, -and not one was missing. - -"This herding instinct is very strong in the collie. I once met a -modern collie in Des Moines, Iowa, who, because he had no sheep to -attend to, busied himself with the chickens, and he would never -consider his day's work finished until he had carefully herded all the -Rhode Island Reds into one corner of the poultry yard, and all the -Plymouth Rocks into another. - -"Cases are on record of collies that were taught to steal for their -masters, by systematically driving off sheep from neighboring -flocks. Many stories deal with the collie's intelligence in fetching -help to a man or animal in danger. One collie brought in a flock of -half-frozen hens, one by one, that had strayed away from the barnyard -and got caught in a blizzard. He carried them tenderly in his mouth, -depositing them in a row before the open fire. Another collie brought -home a strayed horse by the bridle. - -"Shepherd collies are wonderful with the sheep, but the so-called -house collie is often more generally wise and adaptable. Hector, a son -of Sirrah, was such a dog, and his master, a Mr. Hogg of Ettrick, has -told many amusing stories about him. He was always getting into -mischief, and Mr. Hogg's mother vowed he should never go visiting with -her, for, as she put it, 'he was always fighting with other dogs, -singing music, or breeding some uproar or other.' But with all that, -he was so intelligent, and seemed to understand so many things in -advance, that she used to say, 'I think the beast is no canny.' - -"His master's father was one of the church elders of the place, and at -one time accepted the post of precentor. He knew only one tune -well--'St. Paul's'--and this he used to give out twice each Sunday. To -save the congregation from too great a dose of 'St. Paul's,' the son -agreed to relieve him of his duties. But here Hector, accustomed to -his master's company on Sundays, objected. He would follow him to -church, and when he heard his master's voice inside, he would raise -his in the churchyard, much to the amusement of the shepherds and the -country lassies. 'Sometimes,' said Mr. Hogg, 'there would be only the -two of us joining in the hymn.' The result was that he was forced to -resign, and the church was obliged to carry on as best it could with -the old precentor and 'St. Paul's.' - -"Hector exhibited strange motives and peculiar logic sometimes. He was -jealous of the house cat and hated her, but he never touched her or -threatened to do her any harm. He merely kept a suspicious eye on her, -pointing her as a setter points a bird. He used to join in family -prayers, and just before the final 'Amen,' he would leap to his feet -and dash madly about, barking loudly. It was easy to understand how he -knew when the 'Amen' was approaching, but why the excitement that -followed? 'I found out by accident,' wrote Mr. Hogg. 'As we were -kneeling there, he thought we were all pointing Pussy, and he wanted -to be among the first at the death.' - -"Next we come to Rover's breed. Old English sheepdog is its official -name, but I think it might better be called the bob-tailed sheepdog to -distinguish it from the original smooth sheepdog of England. In many -respects it is quite unlike any other breed that comes from England. -He was formerly used by English drovers as a cattle dog, but we know -little of his history. The bob-tail is the hairiest of the large dogs -and one of the most striking of all breeds in appearance. Some of the -puppies are born tailless, while others have their tails removed -within a few days after birth. The bob-tail is an active, swift, -intelligent dog and, as you know if you have watched Rover, very -playful and very expressive with his paws. Having no tail to wag, he -wags his whole hind quarters to let you know he is pleased or -friendly. - -"The German shepherd dog has had a remarkable boom since its -introduction here in 1912. It is an old breed in Germany and its -appearance strongly suggests wolf blood in its ancestry. Originally a -shepherd's dog, and still used as such, this breed has shown itself -remarkably adaptable to police dog work and has been used in the war -more than any other breed. The German shepherd dog is not as gently -affectionate as some breeds, but is intelligent, active, alert, brave, -and loyal. - -"I think I should also speak of the Belgian sheepdog, partly because -we are all interested in Belgium these days, and partly because we -have begun to get a few of these dogs over here. They are said to be -even cleverer police dogs than the Germans. A few have been -successfully used over here by police departments of New York and -vicinity, and a few fanciers have become interested in the -Groenendaele variety and have exhibited specimens in the Westminster -show." - -"What do police dogs do?" inquired Herbie Pierson. - -"I have never seen them at work on the other side," said Mr. -Hartshorn, "but I understand they are a recognized part of the police -service in many cities of France, Austria, Belgium, Holland, and -Germany. They are said to do wonderful things, such as rounding up -gangs of thieves, trailing criminals, and saving drowning persons, -including would-be suicides. In this country their usefulness has been -rather the prevention of crime. I have visited the dog squad, in the -Flatbush section of Brooklyn. There they are muzzled and are not -expected to attack people. They are taken out at night with the -patrolmen and scout around in back yards and anywhere that a burglar -or hold-up man might be lurking. The criminals don't like that idea, -and they have kept away from that section pretty consistently. I -believe these dogs have also found persons freezing in the snow. -Airedales have been tried out as well as Belgian and German shepherd -dogs. For trailing criminals and finding lost persons, the bloodhound -is most commonly used in this country, but I believe some rather -remarkable feats of trailing have been accomplished by Belgian -sheepdogs at Englewood and Ridgewood, New Jersey." - -"They are used mostly as ambulance dogs in the war, aren't they?" -asked Harry Barton. - -"Yes," said Mr. Hartshorn. "You have probably seen pictures of them -bringing in a wounded man's helmet, to guide the stretcher bearers to -where he lies. They are also used as messengers and for sentry duty in -the listening posts, where they are much quicker than the men to -detect the approach of a raiding party or an enemy patrol. I could -tell you some interesting and thrilling stories that I've heard about -these war dogs, but I for one am getting sleepy and I'd like to try -out that balsam bed and see if I like it." - -There was a little less skylarking that night out of respect to the -honored visitor, and so everyone got a good rest and was up betimes in -the morning. After breakfast Mr. Hartshorn asked to be shown about the -country near the camp, and everybody joined in the expedition, -including the dogs. - -"I suppose these dogs are all pretty well acquainted with one another -now," said Mr. Hartshorn, "but I must say it is wonderful how well -they get along together. It all shows the power of human -companionship. Kennel dogs like mine couldn't stand this sort of -thing for an hour. It must be that Rags and Rover keep them all -good-natured." - -Sunday passed quietly and pleasantly and then came another evening -campfire. Some of the boys begged Mr. Hartshorn to tell them about -more breeds of dogs, but he laughingly refused. - -"Sometime I'll tell you about the hound and greyhound families, but -not now. You've had enough," said he. "Besides, I came here to loaf, -not to teach a class. Let's have one of Alfred's stories." - -"I'm afraid I've told them all," said Alfred. "I've tried to think of -more, but I guess there aren't any." - -"We've all told our stock of stories," said Horace. "You're the only -one with a fresh supply. I guess it's up to you, Mr. Hartshorn." - -"The trouble is," said he, "I'm no story teller, but I'll read you -something, if you'd like to hear it. I have quite a library of dog -literature, both fact and fiction, and I've tried to collect every -good thing that has been written about dogs. I selected two stories -that are fairly short and brought them along, thinking there might -develop a need for entertainment of that kind. Would you like to hear -them?" - -A shout of unanimous approval went up. Two of the boys ran to Mr. -Hartshorn's car for the books, and another brought a lighted lantern -and placed it on a box at his elbow. Then they grouped themselves -about the fire again and listened with absorbed attention while he -read them two of the best short dog stories in his collection--"The -Bar Sinister," by Richard Harding Davis, and "Stikeen" by John Muir. - -"My! Aren't those fine!" exclaimed Ernest Whipple. - -"Haven't you any more?" begged Elliot Garfield. - -"No," said Mr. Hartshorn, "I'm sorry to say I haven't any more with -me, but I shall be glad to lend my books to any of you boys who will -promise to return them. They are very precious. I'd like nothing -better than to introduce you to the dogs of literature. They're a -great lot." - -Then he proceeded to tell them something of the best known of these -books--"Bob, Son of Battle," Ouida's "A Dog of Flanders," Jack -London's stories, and a number of others. - -"But I think," he concluded, "that the one I like best of all is the -true story of a little Skye terrier named Greyfriars Bobby, one of the -most faithful dogs that ever lived." - -"Oh, please tell us about him," begged Frank Stoddard. - -"No," said Mr. Hartshorn, "I would only spoil the story. You must read -the book for yourselves. It will give you something to do next winter -when you can't go camping out, and I can promise you a rare treat." - -The next morning Mr. Hartshorn was obliged to leave, and everyone was -up bright and early to see him off. He thanked them all for one of the -jolliest week-ends he had ever spent, and promised to invite them to a -campfire of reminiscence at Willowdale sometime. Then he got into his -car and started the motor. - -I presume he had never taken part in so boisterous a departure. The -rough woods road was difficult enough to drive in at best, and the -boys and dogs crowded about the car, shouting and barking their -farewells. In spite of all Alfred and Horace could do, some of the -more venturesome jumped upon the running boards and rode a little way, -while the dogs, catching the spirit of excitement, dashed about in -front and everywhere. Alfred and Horace rushed in to quiet the -confusion, but before they could get the boys and dogs in hand a sharp -yelp of pain sounded and poor old Rags lay, a helpless, pathetic -figure, in the wheel rut behind the car. - -No one knew, in the confusion, just how it had happened. Mr. Hartshorn -had been driving as slowly and carefully as he could under -difficulties. A moment before Rags had been barking riotously and -leaping at the hand of his master who stood perched precariously on -the running board. Now he lay, mute and motionless, all the joy gone -out of him, his eyes raised in dumb pleading to his master's face. - -A sudden hush fell over the noisy crowd. Even the dogs seemed to know -that something dreadful had happened. Mr. Hartshorn stopped his car -and leaped out. Jimmie Rogers was kneeling on the ground beside his -beloved dog, his face very white, and Rags was feebly trying to lick -his master's hand. - -Jimmie did not weep or cry out, but when Mr. Hartshorn came up, there -was a pleading look in the eyes he lifted to the man's face which was -much like the look in the eyes of the dog. Jimmie did not ask any -questions. He only moved over a little while Mr. Hartshorn leaned over -and tenderly felt of poor Rags's broken body. - -"I must have gone square over him with both wheels," said he. "Poor -little Rags! I wouldn't have done it, old boy, if I'd seen you. You -know that, don't you?" - -The dog's forgiving tongue gave him his answer. Mr. Hartshorn did not -scold the boys, but they all knew they had been to blame, and no -amount of scolding could have made them feel any more remorseful. They -stood about in silent shame and dread. The irrepressible Mr. O'Brien -trotted up to see what it was all about, sniffed at Rags, and then -walked slowly away, raising questioning eyes to his master's face. - -When Mr. Hartshorn arose he was winking very hard and biting his lip. - -"Is he much hurt, sir?" asked Horace. - -"I'm afraid so," said he. "We must get him away at once. Jump into the -car, Jimmie, and come along with me." - -He made a soft bed of the auto robe on the floor of the car, lifted -Rags tenderly in his arms, and laid him on it. - -"Watch him, and keep him as comfortable as possible," he directed -Jimmie. - -That was all that was said, and the car started off again, leaving -grief and woe at Camp Britches. - -Mr. Hartshorn lost no time in getting back to Boytown, though he was -careful not to subject the suffering dog to the pain of rough riding. -At Boytown he jumped out and telegraphed to Bridgeport to command the -attendance of the best veterinary surgeon in the state. Then they sped -on to Willowdale. - -They took Rags out to the little building that was used as a dog -hospital and made him as comfortable as they could. Mrs. Hartshorn -herself brought him a dish of water which he lapped gratefully. He -bore his pain heroically, but he was suffering terribly, and Tom -Poultice thought best to administer a merciful opiate. Then he made a -thorough examination. - -"There's ribs broke," he said, "and I guess 'e's 'urt hinternal." - -"Then there's nothing we can do?" asked Mr. Hartshorn. - -Tom shook his head sorrowfully. - -After awhile the effects of the drug wore off and Rags opened his -eyes. Tom put his hand on the dog's heart and shook his head -dubiously. - -"I'm afraid 'e's going, sir," said he. - -Mr. Hartshorn placed his arm about Jimmie's heaving shoulders and drew -him toward the dog, who seemed to be begging for one last caress of -his master's hand. Mrs. Hartshorn put her handkerchief to her eyes and -hurried out. - -The surgeon arrived soon after noon, but it was too late. Rags had -died in Jimmie's arms. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -THE COMING OF TATTERS - - -After the unfortunate episode that resulted in the accident to Rags, -it was as though a cloud rested over Camp Britches. There was no heart -for merrymaking. And when at last the sad news came of Rags's death, -it seemed as though all the joy had gone out of life. If you have -never been a boy, you do not know how quickly a mood of hilarious -jollity can be followed by one of deep depression. The plan had been -to continue in camp for four or five days more, and some of the boys -had been begging for a longer extension of the time, but now no one -seriously objected when Alfred and Horace proposed breaking camp and -going home. Every boy in camp had loved Rags next to his own dog, and -even Moses went about in an atmosphere of melancholy. - -Sadly they hauled down Jimmie's humorous ensign and pulled up the tent -pegs. It seemed like a different crowd of boys from that which had so -joyously arrived in the wagons but two short weeks before. - -On a sunny hillside half a mile south of the brickyard there grew, at -the edge of the woods, a beautiful little grove of dogwoods, which -in May was always a fairyland of snowy blossoms that almost seemed to -float in the air. In this peaceful spot it was decided to bury the -poor, broken body of Rags. I doubt if there has ever been a funeral in -Boytown that was attended by more sincere mourners. Harry Barton and -Monty Hubbard spent an afternoon, immediately after their return from -camp, making a simple little casket of white wood which they stained a -cherry color. It did not seem fitting that so gay a little dog as Rags -should be laid to rest in a black one. They lined it with soft -flannel, and Jimmie himself, trying hard not to cry, placed the stiff -little body inside, still wearing the old, worn collar, and nailed -down the top. Theron Hammond and Ernest Whipple were appointed to act -as bearers. - -The Camp Britches boys were not the only ones who joined in that -sorrowful little procession to the dogwood grove. Jimmie's mother was -there, quietly weeping, for she had loved Rags like another child, and -with her were two or three of her neighbors. Mr. Fellowes closed up -his store and silently joined them, and there was a little knot of -girls with mournful faces, who had also known Rags and loved him. Mr. -and Mrs. Hartshorn came over from Willowdale and, leaving their car in -the town, followed the little casket on foot with the rest. - -There was no clergyman present to read Scripture or to pray, but I -think the mourners were none the less devout. The whole ceremony, in -fact, was carried through in almost utter silence. It had been thought -best not to bring dogs who might not behave themselves, but Mike and -Hamlet were there, for they could be depended upon, and it seemed -fitting that Rags's canine friends as well as his human friends should -be represented. - -A grave was dug in the sand and the little casket was lowered into it. -Beside it Jimmie placed the battered tin dish that Rags had used and a -much-chewed ladder rung that had been his favorite plaything. The -girls threw in some flowers and then the earth was shoveled in again -and the little company returned home. - -I hope the loyal soul of Rags was where it could look down and see -that his old friends cared and had come to do him honor. At least his -life had been a happy one and free from any guile. And he was not soon -forgotten. Not long afterward there appeared at the head of the little -mound beneath the dogwoods a simple headstone, the gift of Mrs. -Hartshorn, and on it were inscribed these words: - - HERE LIES RAGS - The Best-Loved Dog - in Boytown. - -For some little time the cloud remained over Boytown and there was -little disposition to take any active part in canine affairs. But -youthful spirits cannot long remain depressed, and as the autumn days -approached, one of the boys of Boytown, at least, discovered a new -interest in connection with dog ownership. That was Ernest Whipple. - -For some time Sam Bumpus had been talking, somewhat vaguely, of the -possibility of testing out the powers of Romulus in the field trials, -and Mr. Hartshorn himself had occasionally mentioned this. Ernest -subscribed to a popular kennel paper, and early in September he began -reading about the All-American trials to be held at Denbigh, North -Dakota, and other similar events. The names of famous dogs were -mentioned, both pointers and setters, and there was much speculation -in the paper as to the prospects of winning. The thing fascinated -Ernest, but it was all a bit unintelligible to him. He wanted to learn -more about this sport that seemed to be followed by such a large and -enthusiastic number of people, and to find out the way of getting -Romulus into it. So one day he and Jack took their dogs and walked to -Willowdale, for the express purpose of getting the desired -information. - -Tom Poultice was the first person they encountered, and he confessed -himself to be rather ignorant as to the conduct of American field -trials. - -"I've seen many of them in Hengland," said he, "and a great game it -is. Get a bunch of fine bird dogs out in the fields in the fine -weather, with a big crowd following them, and maybe a bit of wagering -going on be'ind the judges' backs, and the dogs all eager to be after -the birds, and every one of them in the pink, and you've got a fine -sport, men. The dogs seem to know, too, and they go in for all's in -it. But just 'ow they run the trials over 'ere, I can't say. You'd -better ask Mr. 'Artshorn. 'E used to own bird dogs once, and I'll -warrant 'e's been all through it." - -They found Mr. Hartshorn in his den, but he very gladly laid aside the -work he was doing and asked good-naturedly what the trouble was now. - -"We've come to ask you to tell us about field trials," said Ernest. - -"Well, that's a rather big contract," laughed Mr. Hartshorn. "I -suppose I could talk about field trials all night. I've seen some -thrilling contests in my time. Just what is it you would like to -know?" - -"We want to know what a field trial is, how it is run, and what the -dogs do," said Ernest. - -"Well," said Mr. Hartshorn, "a field trial is more than a mere race. -It's a real sport in which all the powers of a bird dog are brought -into play. It's a competition on actual game--prairie chickens or -quail, usually. The dogs are sent out to find the game and point, -with the judges and handlers and the gallery, as the spectators are -called, following. In the big trials there are three or more separate -events. One is called the Derby stake, for dogs under two years of -age. Then there is the All-Age stake, which is the biggest one. -Finally there is the Championship stake, for dogs specially qualified, -and the winning of that brings with it the highest honors in the -bird-dog world. - -"The order of running is decided by lot, and the dogs are put down in -pairs. They start off after the birds and work for a stated length of -time, after which the judges decide which of the two dogs won, the -decision being based on speed, form, steadiness, bird-work, and -everything else that goes to make up the bird dog's special power. -Then these winners are tried together until the best and the second -best, called the runner-up, are chosen in each of the stakes. It takes -a good dog to win one of these stakes, for he has to run more than -once and his work must be consistent. Purses are offered by the clubs -as prizes, amounting to several hundred dollars at the big events. - -"Occasionally there are other stakes, such as novice stakes and events -in which dogs are handled only by their owners. In the big events the -great dogs are usually handled by professionals, who take the dogs -right down the circuit and win all the prizes they can. The trials -begin in September in Manitoba and North Dakota, on prairie chicken, -and are followed by big and small events in the Middle Western states, -Pennsylvania, and finally in the South. The biggest of all is held in -December or January at Grand Junction, Tennessee, every year. Here the -All-America Field Trial Club holds its classic event, in which the -winner of the Championship stake is pronounced the amateur champion of -the United States for one year, winning also a large purse and a -handsome silver trophy." - -"Have you ever seen one of those trials?" asked Jack. - -"Several times," said Mr. Hartshorn. "I have seen some of the most -famous pointers and setters that ever lived run at Grand Junction and -win their deathless laurels." - -"I suppose Romulus wouldn't stand a chance there," said Ernest, a bit -wistfully. - -"Perhaps not, at first," said Mr. Hartshorn, "though you never can -tell. It's a pretty expensive matter, getting a dog ready and putting -him through one of those trials, even though the prizes are large. But -there are smaller ones, and it is possible to try a dog out nearer -home the first time, with less risk and expense. During the spring -there are many trials held by local clubs throughout the East." - -"Couldn't Romulus be entered in one of those?" asked Ernest. - -"I don't know why not," said Mr. Hartshorn. "I'll look it up and let -you know. Meanwhile, tell Sam Bumpus what you're up to and have him -keep Romulus in shape this winter." - -"I suppose Remus couldn't run," said Jack. - -"I'm afraid not, my boy," said Mr. Hartshorn, kindly. "Nose is one of -the prime requisites, and Remus hasn't the nose, as you know." - -"I don't care," said the loyal Jack. "I'd rather win at a bench show, -anyway." - -When Ernest told Sam Bumpus about the plan, that worthy was much -interested. He made a special trip all the way to Willowdale to -consult Mr. Hartshorn, and between them they worked out a plan. Sam -was enthusiastic now as to the superior abilities of Romulus as a bird -dog, and he presently took him in hand for special training to improve -his form and the other qualities that count in the trials. Off and on -all winter Sam took the dog out, patiently and persistently drilling -him. Sometimes Ernest went along and he was amazed by the intelligence -and speed which his good dog displayed. When spring came again Sam -announced that there was nothing more that he could do to improve the -form and capacity of Romulus. - -"I'll back him against any bird dog in the state of Connecticut," said -he, proudly. - -But before I tell how it fared with Romulus at the trials, I have one -episode to relate, the only happening of that winter which needs to be -recorded. For the rest, the weeks passed without any momentous event, -with the boys in whom we are interested growing ever a little older -and wiser. And this particular thing was not of great importance, -perhaps. It did not greatly affect the boy-and-dog life of Boytown. -But it did affect Jimmie Rogers, and Jimmie, since the death of Rags, -had been the one lonely, pathetic figure in the group. It would be a -shame not to tell of the thing that happened to him. - -One day in early December Dick Wheaton appeared on Main Street, -dragging a forlorn-looking little dog by a string. He was a -smooth-coated dog of the terrier type, a rich chocolate brown in -color, with an active body and a good face and head, but anybody could -see he was only a mongrel. No one knew where he had come from and Dick -did not take the trouble to tell where he had found him. - -In his present state the dog showed none of the alert, eager character -of the well-born terrier. He held his tail between his legs and he -cringed abjectly. This seemed to amuse Dick Wheaton. He made little -rushes at the dog and laughed to see the terror in his eyes. He -found entertainment in tapping the dog's toes with his foot and -watching him pull back on the string. Wearying of this, he began -maltreating the helpless animal more cruelly. - -Mr. Fellowes saw all this from the window of his store, and his blood -boiled within him. Unable to stand it any longer, he started out of -his shop to protest, when he saw Jimmie Rogers come running along. - -There could be no doubt as to Jimmie's purpose. His lips were tight -set and his eyes were blazing. He came close up to Dick and seized his -arm. - -"Quit that!" cried Jimmie between his clenched teeth. - -Dick was taller and heavier than Jimmie and he was not unaccustomed to -bullying boys of Jimmie's size. He shook off the hand and grinned -insolently. - -"What's the matter with you, Mr. Humane Society?" he asked. - -"I'll show you, if you don't leave that dog alone," said Jimmie. - -For answer, Dick gave the string a jerk. It was tied tightly around -the dog's neck, and it hurt. - -"Whose dog is this, I'd like to know," said Dick in a taunting tone. - -Jimmie wasted no more breath in words. He snatched the string out of -Dick's hand and faced him defiantly. Dick, now angry in his turn, made -a lunge for the string. Mr. Fellowes couldn't see who struck the -first blow, but in a moment the two boys were fighting desperately, -Jimmie making up in fire and determination for what he lacked in size -and strength. - -Mr. Fellowes felt that he was called upon to interfere. It would -hardly do to let a fight like this go on right in front of his shop, -on the sidewalk of Main Street. Besides, other people were hurrying up -and it might end in serious trouble. - -Just then Dick managed to break free long enough to give the poor dog -a vicious and entirely uncalled-for kick, as though he were in this -way scoring an advantage over his opponent. The little terrier rolled -over and over on the sidewalk, yelping in pain and terror. Then he -found his footing and dashed blindly into Mr. Fellowes's legs. - -The shopkeeper stooped and picked up the frightened little stray and -took him into the store, where he did his best to soothe and comfort -him, and it was wonderful how promptly the little chap responded and -licked the kind man's hand. It may have been the first time he had -ever tasted the milk of human kindness, but instinctively he -understood and looked up confidently into this stranger's eyes with an -expression of gratitude. - -Meanwhile, a little knot of men and boys had gathered out in front of -the shop. It so happened that they were persons who would rather -witness a fight than stop it, or it may have been that there were some -of them who hoped that for once Dick Wheaton would get his deserts. At -any rate, it was a real fight, with no quarter, and it would have been -a cold-blooded person indeed who could not admire the pluck of Jimmie -Rogers. His nose was bleeding and his breath came in sobbing gasps, -but he kept at it with unabated fury. Three times Dick Wheaton threw -him, and three times he jumped to his feet and went for Dick. - -The fighting of boys is no more to be encouraged than the fighting of -dogs, but there seem to be times in the affairs of boys as well as of -men when nothing but fighting will serve. The only way to cure a bully -is to thrash him, and if anyone ever had a justifiable motive for -fighting it was Jimmie Rogers. - -At length Dick's blows appeared to be growing weaker. Jimmie, unable -often to reach his face, had been pummelling him consistently on the -vulnerable spot at the lower end of the breastbone, regardless of the -punishment he himself received, and these tactics were beginning to -tell on Dick's wind. His lips were parted, his eyes staring, and his -face took on a strange mottled look. He began to strike out weakly and -to concern himself chiefly with parrying Jimmie's troublesome blows -and protecting his stomach. - -With lowered guard, Dick staggered uncertainly backward, and Jimmie, -rushing in, dealt him a smashing blow on the mouth that sent him -reeling. Tripping over the door stone of Mr. Fellowes's store, he fell -heavily, and lay there, with his arm crooked over his face, awaiting -he knew not what final _coup de grace_ in an attitude of abject -surrender. - -Men rushed in now, but Jimmie was satisfied. He shook off their hands -and walked, somewhat unsteadily, into the store, and Mr. Fellowes -closed the door behind him. Someone picked Dick up. - -"Well, I guess you've had enough," said this unsympathetic person. - -Dick Wheaton slunk off home without replying. - -Mr. Fellowes did not refer to the fight. He did not think it proper to -praise Jimmie, for he did not believe in boys fighting, but he could -not resist a feeling of proud satisfaction. - -"Want to see the dog?" he asked. - -"Yes," said Jimmie in a tremulous voice. He was almost crying with -weariness and he was doing his best to wipe the blood off his face and -brush the dust off his clothes. - -"Let me help you," said Mr. Fellowes, kindly. - -While he was bathing Jimmie's face, the boy felt a pair of little paws -reaching up on his leg, and a cold little nose thrust into his hand. -He stooped down and patted the little head. The tail came out from -between the dog's legs and wagged joyfully. Impulsively Jimmie caught -him up and hugged him close. It seemed a long time to Jimmie Rogers -since he had felt the moist caress of a loving tongue, and the thing -went straight to his lonely heart. - -During all the fighting he had steadfastly held back the tears of pain -or anger, but now, weakened as he was by his exertions and the after -effects of excitement, he burst into tears, burying his face in the -little dog's warm, soft coat. - -"Oh, little dog, little dog, you're going to be mine!" he cried. - -Mr. Fellowes said not a word. While caring for the dog during the -fight, he had been thinking what a fine thing it would be to keep him, -to fill the place so long left vacant by the death of his Bounce. But -now, as he watched Jimmie, he made the sacrifice. This should be -Jimmie's dog. The boy had fairly won him. Mr. Fellowes understood how -he felt; he, too, had lost a dog. So he merely stroked the dog's head -and said, "What shall you call him?" - -"Tatters," said Jimmie, and still carrying the dog tenderly in his -arms, he started out of the shop. At the door he turned back, with the -flash in his eye again. "And I'd like to see anybody try to take him -away from me," he said. - -"I guess nobody will," said Mr. Fellowes, smiling, and Jimmie bore his -burden proudly home. - -It was wonderful what a change a few days of kindness and good feeding -wrought in Tatters. He never became the favorite that Rags had been, -but he was a good dog, not without excellences and wisdom of his own, -and Jimmie loved him. And the change that came over Jimmie was hardly -less marked. With another dog for his own he was himself again, and -everyone rejoiced with him. On Christmas Day Mr. Fellowes saw to it -that the dogs' Santa Claus presented Tatters with a fine new collar. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -ROMULUS AT THE TRIALS - - -Mr. Hartshorn found, upon investigation, that the nearest field trials -were those at Bedlow, where the Field Trial Club of Eastern -Connecticut held its annual meet in April. It was not usually a large -affair nor prominent among the field trials of the country, but Mr. -Hartshorn thought it would be just about the right place for Romulus -to make his first appearance as a contestant for field-trial honors. -Though not a large affair, it was by no means insignificant, for there -were some good dogs in that part of the country and one or two kennels -from which had sprung dogs that had won a national reputation. Romulus -was pretty sure to have opponents worthy of him. - -April 15th and 16th were the days set for the event. Mr. Hartshorn -communicated with the secretary of the club and made the necessary -arrangements. Ernest Whipple filled out the entry blanks and they were -properly filed. Unfortunately, Romulus was just a few months too old -now to be entered in the Derby, but Ernest was not displeased by the -necessity of seeking bigger game, and Romulus was entered in the -All-Age or Subscription stake. A purse of $50 was offered for the -winner and $30 for the runner-up. - -April 14th dawned mild and bright, and about noon Sam Bumpus appeared -with Romulus, whom he pronounced to be at the top of his form after a -bit of light finishing off the day before. Sam was to go along to -handle the dog. He had not had much experience at field trials, but -Mr. Hartshorn had given him full instructions, and if anybody could -get winning action out of Romulus it was Sam. Mr. and Mrs. Whipple had -agreed to let Ernest and Jack go in care of Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn, -and both boys were full of excitement of the prospect. Mr. Whipple -came out to ask Sam a few questions and I am inclined to think that -even Mrs. Whipple shared a little of the excitement. Sam, as usual, -refused to come into the house, saying that he preferred to eat his -sandwiches in Rome, but he was glad to accept a cup of hot coffee and -some cake which Delia took out to him. - -Soon after dinner Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn appeared in their big car and -the boys hurried out to join them. They sat together on the front -seat, while Sam, Ernest, Jack, and Romulus were bundled into the back -seat, with the suitcases and Sam's gun. It was a tight squeeze, but it -was a jolly party that set forth, waving good-by to Mr. and Mrs. -Whipple, Delia, and the disconsolate Remus. - -"It does seem too bad to have to leave poor Remus, doesn't it?" said -Mrs. Hartshorn. - -"That's all right," said Jack. "His day's coming. You'll see." - -As for Romulus, he was wildly excited by this unusual experience, and -treated the residents of Boytown to a continuous barking, in which -Tatters and Mr. O'Brien and one or two of the other dogs joined, -running beside the car until it was well out of town. Then Sam managed -to quiet Romulus. - -They arrived at Bedlow about dinner time, and Sam at once disappeared -with Romulus, saying that he wanted to see that he had a good dinner -and a place to sleep. The others went up to their rooms and washed up. -Sam did not reappear, and the boys began to be a bit anxious. - -"Don't worry," said Mr. Hartshorn. "He's a queer duck, Sam is. But I -fancy he would be uncomfortable if he stayed with us, and we might as -well let him have his own way. I'll venture to say we won't see him -again till morning, but we can be sure of one thing: Romulus will be -well looked after." - -Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn and the boys had their supper in the -dining-room of the hotel, and all about them they heard dog talk. -After supper they all went to a movie on Mr. Hartshorn's invitation, -for he said that if they didn't get their minds off the trials for a -little while they would not sleep that night. - -It was, in fact, some little time before Ernest and Jack could get to -sleep in their strange surroundings, but at length sleep came, and the -first thing they knew Mr. Hartshorn was knocking on their door and -bidding them get up. They dressed quickly and hurried down to -breakfast, where they found even more people than there were the night -before. Outside there were many automobiles and some horses, and here -and there a dog was to be seen, blanketed and receiving unusual -attention. - -"I don't know where Sam slept last night," said Mr. Hartshorn. "It may -have been in the stable for all I know. I didn't ask him. But he's all -right, and so is Romulus. Sam saw to it that the dog got a good rest, -and he was up bright and early this morning, taking Romulus out for a -short walk to limber him up." - -After breakfast they all piled into the car and started for the fields -a few miles outside of town where the trials were to be held. The sky -was overcast, but Mr. Hartshorn said he didn't think it would rain. -There was little wind, and Sam pronounced it ideal weather for the -contest. - -"I hope it won't rain," said he, "because a wet coat bothers a setter -and gives the pointers the advantage." - -There were a number of cars on the road before and behind them, and -now and then a man galloped past on horseback. - -"Looks like a pretty good gallery," said Mr. Hartshorn. - -When they arrived at the grounds, Mr. Hartshorn told the boys they had -better remain in the car with his wife, while he and Sam consulted -with the officials. After awhile he returned and announced that -Romulus had been paired with another setter named Dolly Grey. - -"I can't find out much about her," said he. "At least, she's not one -of the famous ones, so it oughtn't to be too hard for Romulus. The -Derby will be run off first, so Romulus won't be called on until -afternoon. Sam has taken him off into the woods to keep him quiet." - -In spite of the fact that Romulus did not figure in the Derby, it -proved to be an absorbing and exciting event to the Whipple boys. Two -by two the young dogs were called out and sent off in whirlwind races -after the cleverly hiding birds. Sometimes no birds were discovered, -and then it became merely a contest of speed and form in ranging until -the judges changed to fresh ground. Every now and then, however, one -of the dogs would catch the tell-tale scent, whirl about to some clump -of grass or thicket, and come to a rigid point, his less successful -opponent trailing him and backing him up. Behind them followed the -judges, handlers, and gallery, some in automobiles, some in traps, -some on horseback, and some afoot. - -It turned out to be a fine day after all, and the dogs, eager and -swift, made a pretty sight among the old pastures and stubble fields. -For the most part they were kept away from the woods where it would be -difficult to judge of their performances. - -A halt was called at noon to eat lunch and rest the dogs. Already the -constant shifting of ground had carried them far from Bedlow and the -men who were afoot were tired. The dogs were wrapped in blankets and -were kept as quiet as possible, most of them being in wagons. Mrs. -Hartshorn got out the luncheon kit and the boys found that they were -famously hungry. Sam appeared during the luncheon hour, to find out -how things were going, and Mrs. Hartshorn persuaded him to eat -something with the rest. Romulus, he said, seemed to be in good shape, -and on no account must anybody give him anything to eat. - -About 1:30 the judges called for the final contest in the Derby. A -small lemon-and-white female setter named Dorothea was pitted against -a somewhat overgrown blue belton of the same species. At first it -seemed as though the advantage lay with the bigger, stronger dog, -whose name was King Arthur. He kept well in the lead in the ranging, -but the wise ones noted little Dorothea's superb form and said -nothing. Little by little she crept up on King Arthur, and at length -she swerved sharply to one side and pointed at a clump of alder -bushes. King Arthur had missed the scent entirely. The birds were -flushed and the dogs shot over, for that is the custom. Then the -judges, after a conference, declared the Derby closed and Dorothea the -winner. The party from Boytown saw a young woman rush out from among -the automobiles and throw her arms around the little setter. - -"That must be her mistress," said Ernest. "I bet she's happy." - -The boys were so much interested in all this that they did not realize -that the All-Age stake had already been commenced. Two pointers went -galloping across the field and the contest was on. From that moment -the boys kept their eyes fastened to the successive pairs of racing -dogs, trying to appraise their skill and form and to compare them with -Romulus. It was a better contest than the Derby, with more birds -found, and it was evident that Romulus had opponents worthy of him. -One interesting contestant was a beautiful Irish setter, whose red -coat glistened like gold in the sunshine. He did well, beating his -opponent, but he did not qualify for the finals. - -At last Romulus was called, and with him the setter Dolly Grey. She -was a mild-looking animal, but once loosed she led Romulus a merry -chase. Both dogs were a bit heady at first and did a deal of running -without accomplishing anything, but at length Sam, with his patient -whistle, got Romulus straightened out and Dolly Grey also settled down -to business. She found the first birds, but after that Romulus beat -her to two coveys in rapid succession, and Romulus, to the great joy -of his master and Jack, was declared the winner. - -"Didn't he do splendidly?" said Mrs. Hartshorn as Sam came up with the -panting dog. - -"Waal," said Sam, "he might have done worse and he might have done -better. He wa'n't up to his top form, but it was his first trial. I -expect he'll do better in the finals. It was lucky he wa'n't paired -with one of the best dogs, or he might have been out of it now. As it -is he's got a chance, and I think it's a pretty good one. I heard one -of the judges say some nice things about him." - -"Do you think they'll get to the finals this afternoon?" asked Mr. -Hartshorn. - -"I don't think so," said Sam, "but I've got to stick around. They may -want to see Romulus work again." - -They did try him out once more toward the end of the day, and this -time Sam seemed to be better pleased. Romulus won his heat handily -against a bigger dog. Meanwhile, however, everyone was commenting on -the superb work of a pointer with a chocolate brown head and markings -named Don Quixote, and even the boys could see that he was a past -master at the game. He went at it as though he knew just how to make -the winning move, and he did it every time. - -"He ought to be in the championship class," said Mr. Hartshorn. "He's -an old-timer, and if Romulus can beat him it will be a great triumph." - -Time was called as the shadows began to lengthen, and the crowd, -tired, hungry, and happy, returned to the hotel at Bedlow. At dinner -everyone was speculating as to which two dogs would be chosen to -compete in the finals, and Ernest was sure that the name of Romulus -was heard as often as that of any other dog except Don Quixote. In -response to the popular demand, the judges held a conference that -evening and chose the two who would compete for final honors on the -morrow. Crowds gathered in the lobby to ascertain the outcome of this -conference, and when at last the judges came out everyone was a-tiptoe -with expectation. One of the judges walked over to a bulletin board -and pinned up a piece of paper. It read: "The dogs chosen by the -judges to compete in the final heat of the All-Age stake to-morrow -morning are Don Quixote, pointer, owned by the Rathmore Kennels, and -Romulus, English setter, owned by Mr. Ernest Whipple. The trials will -start promptly at 9.30." - -A cheer went up all over the lobby, and Ernest and Jack, strangely -enough, found tears in their eyes. - -"That means," said Mr. Hartshorn, "that unless Romulus is in some way -disqualified, he wins second place at least, and to become runner-up -in the All-Age stake at his first trial is a big honor, even if he -isn't the winner. I tell you this because I don't want you to be too -much disappointed if Don Quixote beats him. The pointer is a fast, -rangy dog, an old-timer that knows all the tricks of the game, while -Romulus, for all Sam's fine training, is still green. Let's not expect -too much." - -That evening Mr. Hartshorn did not even suggest a movie to take the -minds of the boys off the great event of the morrow; he knew it would -do no good. He told them stories of historic events in the field-trial -game, and then sent them to bed. They talked excitedly together for an -hour after that, but at last sleep claimed them, for they were really -tired, and running dogs filled their dreams. - -An even larger crowd followed the dogs to the trial grounds next -morning, for there were some who were interested only in the -Championship stake, though they were glad to witness the finish of the -All-Age. The day was fine and Sam pronounced Romulus to be in -first-class trim. - -This time the setter seemed to understand what was required of him. He -strained at his leash, and when at last he was set free at the command -of the judges, he was off like a shot, neck and neck with the pointer, -and the gallery cheered. - -Old field-trial fans told Mr. Hartshorn afterward that they had never -witnessed a prettier contest than that one. The pointer was cool and -collected, but full of strength and spirit. When there was any leading -done at all, he generally did it. But there was a certain spontaneous -fire and energy in the running of Romulus that caught the fancy of the -spectators. And Sam's careful drilling began to tell. Romulus settled -down to the steadiest kind of work; his form was perfect and beautiful -to watch; his scent was sure and keen. - -The second move brought the dogs to a very birdy spot, and the points -became frequent. In this department of the work it was nip-and-tuck -between the two dogs. No one could say that either had a quicker nose -than the other or responded more promptly to the scent. Sometimes one -dog would be first on the point, sometimes the other. It was largely a -matter of luck, for the birds lay on both sides of a series of fields, -and the dogs ranged from side to side, circling and quartering in a -manner to delight the heart of a sportsman. - -If Romulus had a fault it was overzeal. He covered more ground than -was absolutely necessary. - -"He is doing wonderfully," said Mr. Hartshorn. "I am only afraid he'll -run himself off his feet. This is bound to be a protracted contest, -the dogs are so nearly equal in every way, and endurance is the -quality that is going to tell in the end." - -As the race continued, those who were familiar with the signs observed -that Romulus was weakening. The more methodical pointer kept up his -steady, fast lope unflagging, but Romulus showed an increasing -inclination to drop behind. - -"I'm afraid this can't last much longer," said Mr. Hartshorn. "The -pace is too hot for Romulus. If he had had more experience he would -know how to save his strength for the last ten minutes. As it is, it -looks as though the pointer had the reserve power." - -Suddenly Don Quixote seemed to tap a new supply of strength and speed. -He dashed to the right, and then circled swiftly around to the -hedgerow of wild shrubs at the left of the field, and all so swiftly -that poor Romulus was left well behind. As they watched, they saw the -setter stumble. He recovered himself, but stood trembling with -weariness and nervous tension. Sam's shrill whistle sounded and -Romulus gathered himself together again, but his feet seemed to -drag; he had lost speed. - -Ernest Whipple was almost beside himself with excitement and fear of -defeat. A hush fell over the gallery as they watched this last -manoeuver of the dogs, and Ernest's voice sounded loud and distinct as -he shouted, "Go on, Romulus! Go on!" - -The setter heard. He knew that voice and he loved it well. Sam's -whistle, which he had become accustomed to obey, had become monotonous -in his ears; it no longer served to put energy into his flagging -limbs. But here was a new call, a call that demanded the last atom of -his devotion and will and strength. He raised his head and looked -about for an instant, his lower jaw quivering. Then he seemed to draw -together and bound away like a steel spring released. Straight ahead -he went, cutting across the track of the pointer and circling around -clean in front of him. Don Quixote, surprised by the suddenness of -this rush, hesitated and looked a bit dazed. The awful strain of the -contest was telling on him, too, and the setter's burst of speed upset -his equilibrium. - -While the pointer still trotted along in a wavering course, as though -in doubt whether to lead or to follow, Romulus caught a scent from the -bed of a little brook almost under the pointer's nose. He whipped -about like a flash and froze to a statuesque point that would have -made a perfect picture for an artist. The pointer, still bewildered, -did not even back him up. - -The umpire's whistle sounded and the handlers called their dogs in. -Sam picked up the trembling Romulus bodily and carried him to the -Hartshorn car. - -"He's all in," said Sam. "He used the last ounce he had. What a -heart!" - -Jack began fondling the setter's ears, but Ernest was eagerly watching -the little group about the judges. At last a man on horseback came -riding up. He was smiling. - -"My congratulations," said he. "Your dog won, and I never hope to see -a pluckier finish." - -The forenoon was already half over and so the Championship stake was -begun immediately, but the occupants of the Hartshorn automobile had -no eyes for it. They could have told you nothing about what happened, -though they learned afterward that it was an exciting contest in which -some of the best dogs in New England took part. They were engrossed in -their own triumph, and if ever a dog stood in danger of being spoiled, -it was Romulus. Sam wore one of the broadest grins the human face is -capable of and Ernest found his emotions quite beyond expression. - -The party left early, before the Championship stake was finished, and -they made a triumphal entry into Boytown. The last part of the way -they were accompanied by a noisy convoy of cheering boys and barking -dogs, and the town knew what had happened long before it read the -stirring account in the papers. - -In due course Ernest received a handsome silver trophy, engraved with -the now famous name of Romulus, and Mrs. Whipple appeared to be as -proud of its appearance on the mantelpiece as any of the others. There -was also the fifty dollar purse, from which Ernest was obliged to -deduct a considerable amount for entrance fee and other expenses. The -rest he tried to force upon Sam in payment for his invaluable -services, but Sam would not hear of it. - -"Why," said Ernest, "you earned ten times as much as that." - -"I didn't earn anything I didn't get," said Sam. "I raised that pup -and I'm as proud of him as you are. I'm satisfied." - -So Ernest put the balance in the savings bank as a fund for financing -similar undertakings in the future. - -"A great dog, that Romulus," said Mr. Whipple, when it was all over. -"I always did believe he'd cut a figure somehow. It's a pity Remus -isn't in his class." - -He didn't mean Jack to overhear him; he had no wish to hurt the boy's -feelings. But Jack did overhear and came promptly into the room. - -"That's all right," said he. "Remus will have his day yet. He'll show -you." - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -THE MASSATUCKET SHOW - - -During the winter the Willowdale dogs had again won bench-show honors -in New York, Boston, and elsewhere, and Mr. Hartshorn and Tom Poultice -were now getting some of them in shape for the smaller outdoor shows -of the summer season. Several of the boys made a pilgrimage to -Thornboro one day early in June and found Tom engaged in combing the -soft, puppy hair out of the coat of one of the young Airedales. - -"Why do you do that?" asked Elliot Garfield. - -"It does seem foolish, doesn't it?" said Tom. "Well, you see a -Hairedale is supposed to 'ave a short, stiff coat, and if you put one -in the ring with a lot of this soft 'air on him, the judge won't look -twice at 'im." - -"Are you going to show this one?" asked Ernest Whipple. - -"Yep," said Tom. "'E goes to Mineola next week. It'll be his first -show. I don't know what his chances are. Mineola usually has a lot of -good dogs. It's near New York and it's one of the biggest of the -country shows. We usually try out the youngsters and the second-string -dogs on these summer shows and keep the best ones for the big winter -shows. Then we 'ave a chance to see 'ow they size up. If a dog wins -ribbons enough in the summer shows we figure he's qualified for the -big ones next winter. Sometimes a dog can win his championship without -ever seeing the inside of Madison Square Garden. He has to be shown a -lot of times, that's all, and win pretty regular." - -"It isn't so hard to win at the summer shows, is it?" asked Theron -Hammond. - -"Oh, my, no," said Tom. "Sometimes when the classes are small it's a -cinch. Take a rare kind of dog and he's apt to 'ave no competition." - -"I wonder if any of our dogs would have a chance at one of the summer -shows," said Jack, with suppressed eagerness in his voice. - -"I don't know why not," Tom responded. - -That started the boys thinking and talking, and a week later they -trooped out to see Mr. Hartshorn about it. Half the boys in town had -decided that they wanted to show their dogs, and Mr. Hartshorn was at -first inclined to discourage them all. - -"It's quite a job, taking dogs to a show and caring for them there, -and it costs something," said he. "You have some good dogs--in fact, -they're all fine fellows--but not many of them are of the show type. -You would find the competition somewhat different from that in -Morton's barn. I don't believe your parents would thank me for -encouraging you to enter dogs that haven't a good chance at the -ribbons, and I'm sure I would hesitate to be responsible for looking -after a gang of you." - -"But couldn't a few of the dogs be tried?" asked Jack Whipple. - -Mr. Hartshorn looked into the lad's eager, bright eyes and smiled. - -"Perhaps," said he. "Let me think it over." - -As a matter of fact it was Mr. Hartshorn's desire not to seem to show -favoritism that made him speak that way. For his own part he would -like nothing better than to see Remus and one or two of the other dogs -have a try at the ribbons, and his wife urged him to give them a -chance. The outcome of it was that most of the boys were dissuaded, -with quiet friendliness, from attempting the useless venture, while -five dogs were eventually entered in the show of the Massatucket -Kennel Club, to be held at Welden, some fifty miles from Boytown, in -July. These five were Romulus, Remus, Alert, Hamlet, and Rover. These -Mr. Hartshorn thought would stand the best chance of winning -something. The Old English sheepdog was entered under his original -name of Darley's Launcelot of Middlesex, and for once Elliot Garfield -was proud of the name. - -Mr. Hartshorn knew he had quite a handful of boys and dogs to look -after, but Mrs. Hartshorn said she would help, while Tom Poultice took -sole charge of the half-dozen Willowdale dogs that were also entered. - -The Willowdale dogs were shipped ahead in crates, as usual. So was -little Alert. The masters of the other four dogs, however, objected to -a form of confinement which the dogs couldn't understand, and it was -arranged that the boys should take the dogs with them in the baggage -car. Theron Hammond courteously offered to accompany Mrs. Hartshorn in -the coach and Tom Poultice took an earlier train, so the baggage car -party consisted of Romulus, Remus, Hamlet, Rover, Mr. Hartshorn, -Ernest and Jack Whipple, Herbie Pierson, and Elliot Garfield. It was -fortunate that only half a car-load of baggage was traveling that day, -or they might not have been able to crowd in. As it was, they managed -to find seats on various boxes and trunks and made themselves fairly -comfortable. The dogs, with their masters for company, were content, -after the first sense of strangeness had worn off. - -"I understand," said Mr. Hartshorn, after the train had started, -"that about five hundred dogs are entered, so it ought to be a fairly -representative show. It won't be like New York, of course, but you -ought to have a chance to see good dogs of most of the well-known -breeds. And the dogs at an outdoor show are usually happier and less -nervous than if they were cooped up for two or three days in a crowded -hall and compelled to spend their nights there. There are really -serious objections to the big indoor shows. More danger of spreading -distemper and other diseases, too, than at the outdoor shows." - -"Do you think we will see any of the famous champions there?" asked -Herbie. - -"Yes," said Mr. Hartshorn, "I believe some of the crack Sealyhams and -wire-haired fox terriers are entered, and there's sure to be a good -showing of Boston terriers. Alert will be in fast company. - -"The wires are always worth seeing," said he, after a pause. "It was a -white bull terrier that won best of all breeds in New York last -winter, but during the last half-dozen years wire-haired fox terriers -have won two-thirds of the first honors. The breeders seem to have -nearly achieved perfection with this variety. Matford Vic, Wireboy of -Paignton, Wycollar Boy, and several others have been almost perfect -specimens. But you never can tell. Their day may be passing, and for -the next few years it may be Airedales or bulldogs, or almost any -other breed that will force its way to the top. That's one of the -interesting features of the dog-show game. Then sometimes you find all -predictions upset, and all the big dogs beaten by a greyhound or an -Old English sheepdog. There's always a chance for everybody." - -[Illustration: Beagles] - -As the train pulled up at a station somewhere along the line a man -entered the baggage car with a brace of beagles on a leash. Nice -little dogs, they were, with friendly eyes and beautiful faces. - -"Is the baggage man here?" asked the man. - -"I haven't seen him lately," said Mr. Hartshorn. "Is there anything we -can do for you?" - -"Why, yes," said the man. "I'm sending these dogs down to Welden. -There'll be someone to call for them there. You look as though you -might be bound for that place yourselves, and if you could keep an eye -on these dogs it would be a great favor." - -"We'll do so with pleasure," said Mr. Hartshorn. - -"What are their names?" asked Ernest. - -"Tippecanoe and Tyler Too," he answered. "I'm entering them as singles -and as a brace, and I think I stand a pretty good show." - -The baggage man came along, and by the time the owner of the beagles -had arranged for their shipment the train was ready to start again. - -"It's lucky you were here to take them," said the man, "or I shouldn't -have been able to send them this way. Good-by and good luck." - -"Good-by," they shouted, and proceeded to get acquainted with the -beagles. - -"They're like small hounds, aren't they?" said Jack. - -"Yes," said Mr. Hartshorn, "they are really hounds." - -"Oh," said Ernest, "that makes me think. You never told us about the -hound breeds, and you said you would sometime. Couldn't you do it -now?" - -"Let's see," said Mr. Hartshorn, opening his grip. "Ah, yes, here it -is." He took out a small paper-covered book containing the standards -of the different breeds. "I always mean to take this with me to the -shows. Without my books I can't always remember the facts, but with -the help of this I guess I can make out. - -"Now there still remain the hound and greyhound families to be -covered. They are both hounds, in a way, but they have been distinct -for centuries. They are both very old types of dogs. - -"We will begin with the bloodhound because he's the biggest. There are -a lot of people who have got their ideas about the bloodhound from -'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' and there are places where you aren't allowed to -keep a bloodhound because the breed is supposed to be so dangerous and -ferocious. But that is a great injustice. The true English bloodhound -is not the mongrel beast that was used in slavery days, but is a -finely developed and reliable dog. Contrary to the general belief, the -modern bloodhound is not ferocious, but gentle and affectionate, -almost shy. He is a wonderful trailer and has often been successfully -used to find both criminals and lost persons, but he does not attack -them when he finds them. - -"The otter hound is an English dog not common with us. He has a unique -appearance, something like a bloodhound in a rough coat, with a face -not unlike that of an Airedale terrier or a wire-haired pointing -griffon. He is a steady and methodical hunter, sure on the trail, a -strong swimmer, brave, patient, and affectionate. - -"The foxhound is the most popular sporting dog of England, his history -being bound up with that of British hunting. I guess you know what a -foxhound looks like. The American Kennel Club recognizes two separate -classes of foxhounds, the English and the American. The latter is, of -course, native bred, and is somewhat smaller and lighter in bone than -the English hound. The so-called American coon-hound is a dog of the -foxhound type and of foxhound origin, bred carelessly as to type, but -trained to hunt the raccoon and opossum. - -"The name harrier was first given somewhat indiscriminately to all -English hunting hounds before the foxhound was highly developed. Later -the harrier was developed as a separate breed for hunting hares. It is -now rare in England and there are almost no harriers in the United -States. The beagle is like a smaller, finer foxhound, and has the same -ancestry. He is a good, all-round sporting dog, and a good-looking -fellow, as you see, with a solid build, a rugged appearance, and a -fine face. - -"The dachshund (don't call it dash-hund) is a canine dwarf best known -for his absurdly disproportionate appearance, but he is a most -attractive, serviceable little dog. He was evolved long ago from the -hounds of Germany for the special work of hunting the badger. His bent -forelegs and queer proportions are really deformities scientifically -bred. The dachshund has a wonderful nose and is a good worker with -foxes as well as with ground animals, though his peculiar build best -fits him for the latter. He is a clean, companionable house dog, -affectionate and spirited. The basset is a short-legged French hound -resembling the German dachshund, to which it is doubtless related. We -are not familiar with the breed in this country. It looks like a large -dachshund with a bloodhound head." - -"Do you know any good hound stories?" asked Jack, who was fondling the -long, velvety ears of the two beagles. - -"Not many," said Mr. Hartshorn. "Most of the foxhound stories I have -heard have illustrated the sagacity and cleverness of the fox rather -than that of the hound. There are also one or two stories that show -that the hound has a strong homing instinct like that of some of the -other breeds. The only foxhound anecdote of an amusing nature that I -recall is told of one that was owned by a strict Roman Catholic. -Whenever Lent arrived, this dog always ran away and paid a round of -visits on Protestant acquaintances until Easter ushered in a period of -more varied menus at home. This hound was not trained with a pack -but was kept as a single pet, which accounts for his marked -personality, more like that of a terrier than of a hound. - -"I have read a number of accounts in the newspapers describing rescues -by bloodhounds. I remember one was about a Brooklyn girl who wandered -away from a hotel and was lost on a mountain in Vermont. A famous -bloodhound was brought over from Fairhaven and was allowed to smell of -a handkerchief belonging to the girl. He took up her trail at the -village store and followed it along roads where horses and automobiles -had been, through two other villages, and into the woods, and he at -last found the girl on the verge of exhaustion far up the -mountainside. - -"Another bloodhound in California found a lost child at the edge of a -cliff in a dense fog and drew him back from the precipice just in -time. Most of the bloodhound stories are of that nature, though there -are some that have to do with the trailing of criminals. - -"One of the classic stories of literature is that of the hound of -Montargis. He may have been a St. Hubert hound, or one of the other -French hounds, though I have always suspected that he may have been a -mâtin or dog of the Great Dane type. But the breed is a matter of -minor importance. The main features of the story are somewhat as -follows: - -"There were once two officers of the King's bodyguard in France named -Macaire and Montdidier. Fast friends at first, they became bitter -enemies and rivals, and one day in the Forest of Bondi, near Paris, -after a violent quarrel, Macaire drew his sword and slew Montdidier -and buried his body in the woods. - -"Now Montdidier owned a faithful hound who came to search for him. He -traced him to the grave and there he remained until he was nearly -famished. The poets would have us believe that the dog reached the -conclusion that his master had been slain, that he discovered the -scent of the murderer, and that he set out in quest of vengeance. At -any rate, he went to the home of a friend of his dead master's and was -given food. He attached himself to this household but went often to -the grave. - -"Of course, Montdidier's comrades soon missed him and his absence was -reported to Charles V, the King. Foul play was suspected and the King -ordered an investigation, but no evidence was forthcoming. Meanwhile -Montdidier's friend had also become suspicious and one day he followed -the hound to the grave. Observing the dog's actions, he surmised what -must be there. He reported the matter to the King who had the body -exhumed and discovered marks of violence. - -"On several occasions after that the hound attempted to attack Macaire -but was prevented from doing him injury. He was entirely peaceable -toward everybody else, so that these circumstances were noticed. -Guardsmen remembered that Macaire and Montdidier had quarreled and -suspicion fastened itself upon Macaire. The King was told of all this -and he himself observed the actions of the hound when he was brought -near his master's murderer. - -"In those days it was sometimes the custom for judges to settle a -dispute by ordering the contestants to fight a duel. King Charles -decided to adopt this method in an effort to determine whether or not -Macaire was guilty, and he ordered a trial combat to take place -between the man and the dog at the Château of Montargis on the Isle of -Notre Dame, Paris. The man was given a stout cudgel as his only -weapon, while the dog was provided with an empty cask into which he -might retreat if too hard pressed. - -"The battle was a terrible one, Macaire fighting for his life and the -dog to revenge his dead master. The hound paid no heed to the blows -that were rained upon him, but attacked blindly. At last he got a firm -grip on the man's throat and hung on. Macaire, weakening and -terrified, begged to be rescued and confessed his guilt. The dog was -dragged away at last and the gallows robbed him of his revenge." - -"Whew!" exclaimed Herbie Pierson. "Some story! Got any more like that, -Mr. Hartshorn?" - -"Half a dozen of them," replied Mr. Hartshorn with a laugh, "but -they'll have to wait till another time, as I believe we are nearing -our destination. For the same reason I must postpone telling you about -the dogs of the greyhound family. Here we are, boys." - -Tom Poultice was waiting for them at the Welden station and so was the -man who had come for the two beagles. Under Tom's guidance they walked -out to the fair grounds, which were only a mile away. This was to be -the scene of the show, and there were already a number of dogs and -crates about. - -"I've arranged to stay out 'ere," said Tom. "There's an 'ouse where I -can sleep, and I can look after all the dogs." - -They looked around the grounds a bit. Mr. Hartshorn found the -superintendent of the show and had a few words with him, and then they -all returned to town, leaving the dogs in Tom's care. They were all -well acquainted with him and did not feel that they were being left -among total strangers. - -They registered at the hotel, which they found to be overcrowded. An -extra cot was placed in one of the rooms, and Ernest, Jack, and Elliot -were assigned to it. They did not consider the situation to be any -hardship. They enjoyed a good dinner in the dining-room and then -gathered in Mr. Hartshorn's room for a talk. - -After discussing dog shows some more and speculating as to the outcome -of the morrow's contests. Ernest, whose thirst for dog learning was -insatiable, reminded Mr. Hartshorn of his promise to tell them about -the breeds of the greyhound family. - -"The greyhound proper," said he, "is of course the first to be -considered. It is perhaps the oldest distinct type of dog now in -existence. Likenesses of greyhounds are to be seen in relics of -Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman sculpture, and the type has -altered surprisingly little in seven thousand years. It was developed -for great speed from the first and was used in the chase. Unlike the -other hounds, the dogs of the greyhound family hunt by sight and not -by scent. - -"The whippet is merely a smaller greyhound, but has been bred as a -separate variety for upward of a century. On a short course the -whippet is faster than a racehorse, covering the usual 200 yards in -about 12 seconds. Whippet racing as a sport has never taken hold in -America and we have comparatively few of the breed here. You have -already been told about the Italian greyhound. It belongs to the -greyhound family but is classed as a toy. - -"Although speed is the thing for which the greyhound is most famous, -stories have been told which illustrate the breed's fidelity and -sagacity when his master makes a comrade of him. I will tell you one -of these tales. A French officer named St. Leger was imprisoned in -Vincennes, near Paris, during the wars of St. Bartholomew. He had a -female greyhound that was his dearest friend and he asked to have her -brought to him in prison. This request was denied and the dog was sent -back to St. Leger's home in the Rue des Lions St. Paul. She would not -remain there, however, and at the first opportunity she returned to -the prison and barked outside the walls. When she came under her -master's window he tossed a piece of bread out to her, and in this way -she discovered where he was. - -"She contrived to visit him every day, and incidentally she won the -admiration and affection of one of the jailers, who smuggled her in -occasionally to see her master. St. Leger was at last released, but -his health was broken and in six months he died. The dog grieved for -him and would not be comforted by any of the members of the household. -At last she ran away and attached herself to the jailer who had -befriended her and her master, and with him she lived happily till the -day of her death. - -"Now we come to one of the grandest breeds of all--the Irish -wolfhound. It is a breed of great antiquity and of great size and -power. The Latin writer Pliny speaks of it as _canis graius -Hibernicus_, and in Ireland it was known as _sagh clium_ or wolf dog. -For in ancient Ireland there were huge wolves and also enormous elk, -and the great dogs were used to hunt them. These hounds were even used -in battle in the old days of the Irish kings. - -"Two classic stories are told of the Irish wolfhound. One is of the -hound of Aughrim. There was an Irish knight or officer who had his -wolfhound with him at the battle of Aughrim, and together they slew -many of the enemy. But at last the master himself was killed. He was -stripped and left on the battlefield to be devoured by wolves. But his -faithful dog never left him. He remained at his side day and night, -feeding on other dead bodies on the battlefield, but allowing neither -man nor beast to come near that of his master until nothing was left -of it but a pile of whitening bones. Then he was forced to go farther -away in search of food, but from July till January he never failed to -return to the bones of his master every night. One evening some -soldiers crossed the battlefield, and one of them came over to see -what manner of beast the wolfhound was. The dog, thinking his -master's bones were about to be disturbed, attacked the soldier, who -called loudly for help. Another soldier came running up and shot the -faithful dog. - -"The other story is that of devoted Gelert which you may have heard. -Robert Spencer made a poem or ballad of it." - -"I've never heard it," said Jack Whipple. - -"Nor I," said Elliot Garfield. - -"Well," said Mr. Hartshorn, "it's a rather tragic story. Put into -plain and unadorned prose, it runs something like this: Gelert was an -Irish wolfhound of great strength and great intelligence that had been -presented by King John in 1205 to Llewelyn the Great, who lived near -the base of Snowdon Mountain. Gelert became devoted to his master and -at night 'sentinel'd his master's bed,' as the poem has it. By day he -hunted with him. - -"One day, however, Gelert did not appear at the chase and when -Llewelyn came home he was angry with the dog for failing him. He was -in that frame of mind when he met Gelert coming out of the chamber of -his child. The dog was covered with blood. Llewelyn rushed into the -room and discovered the bed overturned, the coverlet stained with -gore, and the child missing. He called to the boy but got no response. - -"Believing that there was but one interpretation for all this, -Llewelyn called Gelert to him and in his wrath thrust his sword -through the dog's body. Gelert gave a great cry of anguish that -sounded almost human, and then, with his eyes fixed reproachfully on -his slayer's face, he died. Then another cry was heard--that of the -child, who had been awakened from sleep by the shriek of the dying -dog. Llewelyn rushed forward and found the child safe and unscratched -in a closet where he had fallen asleep. The father hurried back to the -bloody bed, and beneath it he found the dead body of a huge gray wolf -which told the whole story. In remorse Llewelyn erected a tomb and -chapel to the memory of faithful Gelert and the place is called Beth -Gelert to this day." - -There was a suspicious moisture about more than one pair of eyes as -Mr. Hartshorn finished this narrative, and he hurried on to less -tragic matters. - -"The Irish wolfhound is to-day a splendid animal," said he, "and the -breed deserves to be better known in this country. It has had an -interesting history. There was a time when it nearly died out in -Ireland, and the modern breed was started with the remnants some fifty -years ago, with the help of Great Dane and Scottish deerhound crosses. -The new breed was not thoroughly established, however, until the -latter part of the last century. As a made breed, so called, it is a -remarkable example of what can be accomplished by patient, scientific -breeding. The Irish wolfhound is a big, active, sagacious, wonderfully -companionable dog, muscular and graceful, and as full of fun as a -terrier. - -"The Scottish deerhound is similar in most respects to the Irish -wolfhound, but is lighter, speedier, and less powerful. They have a -common ancestry, though the two breeds were distinct as long ago as -the twelfth century. The breed was a favorite with Sir Walter Scott. - -"The Russian wolfhound, known in Russia as the borzoi, is one of the -most graceful and aristocratic of all the breeds, combining speed, -strength, symmetry, and a beautiful coat. He has been used for -centuries in Russia for hunting wolves and has been bred as the -sporting dog of the aristocracy." - -"It makes a dog show a lot more interesting to know something about -the different breeds," said Ernest Whipple. - -"Of course it does," said Mr. Hartshorn. "And if I am not mistaken, I -have told you something about almost every breed that you will ever be -likely to see at a dog show or anywhere else." - -Soon afterward they separated for the night. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -THE TEST OF REMUS - - -The Boytown party was at the fair grounds long before the show opened -the following morning, and you may be sure the dogs were glad to see -their masters, though they had been well cared for by Tom. - -Though technically an outdoor show, there was room for all the dogs in -the commodious cattle-show sheds in case of rain. The weather promised -to be fair and warm, however, so only the smaller dogs and some of the -larger short-coated ones were benched inside, where they had plenty of -room and plenty of ventilation. The collies and Old English sheepdogs -were tied in a row in the shade of some maple trees at one side of the -grounds, and the rough-coated terriers, the setters, and some of the -other breeds were also outside. The boys found the places reserved for -their dogs and saw to it that they were properly and comfortably -benched. - -When the show opened and the spectators began to arrive, the Boytown -dogs were at first nervous and excited and could not bear to have -their masters leave them. After an hour or two, however, they became -accustomed to their surroundings, and leaving them in charge of Tom -Poultice, the boys made the rounds of the show under the guidance of -Mr. Hartshorn. - -It was a most interesting experience for them. Some of the breeds were -of course familiar to them, and Mr. Hartshorn called attention to -their points and showed how some of the dogs back home fell short of -conforming to the requirements of the standard. In some instances they -recognized breeds that Mr. Hartshorn had told them about but which -they had never seen before. There were, for example, a Scottish -deerhound, an Irish water spaniel, and some cairn terriers. As Mr. -Hartshorn had predicted, there were noteworthy entries of Sealyhams, -wire-haired fox terriers, and Boston terriers, and particularly -interesting exhibits of bulldogs and chows. There was one dog that -puzzled them--a white dog with fluffy coat and bright eyes. The -catalogue stated that it was a Samoyede. - -"What is a Samoyede, Mr. Hartshorn?" asked Herbie Parsons. "I don't -think I ever heard of that kind." - -"That's so," said Mr. Hartshorn. "I guess I never told you about the -Arctic breeds. This is one of them. They're not very common." - -There were individual dogs, too, that demanded special attention, -friendly dogs that wanted to shake hands and be patted and that -begged the boys to stay with them. This encouraged loitering and made -the circuit of the benches quite a protracted affair. Mr. Hartshorn -had warned them about approaching the dogs without an introduction. - -"There are always some dogs that aren't to be trusted," said he, "and -as the day wears on and they get more and more nervous, they may snap. -It's always well to be cautious at a dog show, no matter how well you -understand dogs. Never make a quick motion toward a dog or try to put -your hand on the top of his head at first. Reach your hand out toward -him quietly and let him sniff at the back of it. Then you can soon -tell whether he invites further advances or not." - -The boys became so absorbed in trying out this form of introduction -that it was noon before they had finished visiting all the benches. -Mrs. Hartshorn insisted on having luncheon. - -"I'm hungry if no one else is," said she. - -The five boys suddenly discovered that they were hungry, too. Mr. -Hartshorn led them to a restaurant on the grounds and ordered the -meal. It might have been better, but the boys were not critical. When -they had finished eating they went out and sat for a little while in -the shade of some trees, not far from the collies, and watched the -people. - -"Now I'll tell you about those Arctic breeds," said Mr. Hartshorn, -"and get that off my mind." - -It was very warm, and they were all glad of a little chance to rest. -It is tiring to walk around a dog show and one becomes more weary than -one realizes. The boys stretched themselves out on the grass and -listened to Mr. Hartshorn's words mingled with the barking of the dogs -in all keys. - -"It won't take very long to tell about these northern breeds," he -began. "Their natural habitat is in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions -of Asia, Europe, Greenland, and North America. They are probably -related to the Arctic wolf and they are generally used in those -countries as sledge dogs. - -"The spitz dog found his way down from the cold countries long ago, -but he still retains some of his racial characteristics. The proper -name for the one occasionally seen here is the wolfspitz. He is the -largest of the spitz family, of which the Pomeranian is the miniature -member. - -"The Samoyede or laika is the sledge dog of northern Russia and -western Siberia and was used by Nansen in his explorations. Next to -the wolfspitz, the Samoyede is the most attractive and domestic of the -Arctic breeds and has acquired some popularity among American -fanciers, especially the white ones. - -"The Norwegian elkhound is used as a bird dog as well as for hunting -big game in Scandinavia. It is not a hound at all, but a general -utility dog of the Arctic type, dating back to the days of the -Vikings. A few have been shown in this country. - -"The Eskimo dog is larger than the Samoyede and is nearer to the wolf -in type. He has long been known as a distinct breed, being a native of -Greenland and northern Canada, and was used by Peary, the Arctic -explorer. The breed has occasionally been shown in the United States. - -"There are also a number of loosely bred sledge dogs in North America, -including the Canadian husky and the malamutes and Siwash dogs of -Alaska. The husky, is a powerful dog, weighing 125 pounds or more, and -is the common draught dog of Canada. He is said to be the result of a -cross between the Arctic wolf and the Eskimo dog." - -"He sounds rather unattractive to me," said Mrs. Hartshorn. - -"Well, he is, as a pet," said her husband, "but he is a wonderfully -useful animal in his own country. Is everybody rested now? I imagine -we'd better be going back. I want to be on hand when they judge the -Airedales." - -The party rose and trooped back to the sheds. At intervals during the -afternoon they visited their own dogs and before night they had -finished their rounds of the show, but a good share of the time was -spent in the vicinity of the judging rings. These were two roped-off -enclosures on the open lawn, with camp chairs arranged about them for -the ladies. At all times there was a goodly gathering about the rings -of people whose interest was in the outcome of the judging. -Considering the fact that there was no lively action like that of a -field trial or an athletic contest, it was remarkable how much -excitement could be derived from these quiet competitions. When a -favorite dog was given the blue ribbon there was much hand-clapping -and a little cheering, and the boys heard very little complaining or -rebellion against the decisions of the judges. Dog fanciers are, for -the most part, good sports. - -The Airedales were judged among the first, and as usual the Willowdale -dogs, skilfully exhibited by Tom Poultice, bore off their fair share -of the honors. Soon the Boston terriers were called for. This was -Theron Hammond's big moment, and when Alert was awarded second prize -in the novice class Theron was warmly congratulated by friends and -strangers alike, for there were a lot of good dogs shown and, as Mr. -Hartshorn had said, Alert was in fast company. - -Rover, as Darley's Launcelot of Middlesex, had an easier time of it, -for only eight Old English sheepdogs were benched and none of the -famous kennels were represented here. There were only three dogs in -the novice class, and as the other two were second-rate dogs, Rover -won first place. He also won third in the open class, but was beaten -out by better dogs in the winners contest. - -[Illustration: Old English Sheepdog] - -Hamlet, however, didn't win anything. His forelegs weren't straight -and the judge took special note of them. He had better dogs against -him, and the better dogs won. It was a fair contest, but Herbie was -bitterly disappointed. - -"Never mind, Herbie," said Jack Whipple, consolingly. "I bet Hamlet -is a better dog to own than any of them. That's what I said about -Remus when they said he hadn't any nose." - -And Herbie, not to be outdone by the younger boy, plucked up spirit -and bore his defeat manfully. - -It was a two-day show, and the judging of the bird dogs, hounds, and -some of the other breeds was put over to the second day. Ernest and -Jack, therefore, still had their exciting time ahead of them, but the -whole party was tired with so much walking about and watching, and -they were glad to turn their dogs over to Tom's care and return to the -hotel, with another day of it before them. - -"Have you told us about all the breeds there are?" asked Ernest that -evening in Mr. Hartshorn's room. - -"I believe I have," said Mr. Hartshorn, "except some little known -foreign ones." - -"Oh, please tell us about those," pleaded Ernest. - -Mr. Hartshorn laughed. "You're bound to know it all, aren't you?" said -he. "There are a number of European, Asiatic, and Australasian breeds, -some of which are very interesting, but you will probably never see -any of them and I haven't a list of them with me. When we get back to -Boytown, if there are any of you boys that would like to look up these -uncommon breeds, just to make your dog knowledge complete, I shall be -very glad to lend you a book which contains them all. For instance, -there's the German boxer which has sometimes been shown in this -country, and the Pyrenean sheepdog whose blood is to be found in -several of our large breeds, including the St. Bernard and the Irish -wolfhound. There are other European sheepdogs and hunting dogs, -Asiatic greyhounds, and some queer hairless freaks. When you've looked -those all up you'll know more about dogs than most naturalists do." - -"Then if the breeds are all used up, I suppose the anecdotes have all -been used up, too," said Jack. - -Mr. Hartshorn looked at his watch. "Well, no, not quite all used up," -said he. "I have thought of two or three more, and I guess we've got -time for one of them to-night. It is about a tradesman of the Rue St. -Denis in Paris, a man named Dumont. He had a very smart dog, but I -don't know what kind of dog it was. Perhaps a terrier or a poodle. -This dog was great at finding hidden articles. One day Dumont was -walking with a friend in the Boulevard St. Antoine and was bragging -about his dog. The friend would not believe his statements, so they -laid a wager, the master claiming that the dog could find and bring -home a six-livre piece hidden anywhere in the dust of the road. - -"So the piece of money was hidden in the dust when the dog was not -looking, and they went on a mile farther. Then the dog, whose name -was Caniche, was told to go back and get the coin, and he promptly -started. The friend wished to wait and see how it would come out, but -Dumont said, 'No, we will proceed. Caniche will bring the money home.' -They accordingly went to Dumont's home and waited, but no dog -appeared. The friend asserted that the dog had failed and claimed the -wager, but Dumont only said, 'Be patient, _mon ami_; something -unexpected has happened to delay him, but he will come.' - -"Something unexpected had indeed happened. A traveler from Vincennes -came driving along in a chaise soon after Dumont and his friend had -passed that way, and his horse accidentally kicked the coin out of the -dust. The traveler, seeing it glisten, got out and picked it up, and -then drove on to his inn. - -"When Caniche came up the money was, of course, not there, but he -picked up the traveler's scent and followed his chaise to the inn. -Arriving there and finding his man, Caniche proceeded to make friends -with him. The traveler, flattered by this attention, and being fond of -dogs, said he would like to adopt Caniche, and took him to his room. -The dog settled down and appeared to be quite content. - -"When bedtime came and the man began to undress, Caniche arose and -barked at the door. The man, thinking this was quite natural, opened -the door to let him out. Suddenly Caniche turned, seized the man's -breeches, which he had just taken off, and bolted out with them. There -was a purse full of gold pieces in the breeches, and the traveler -dashed after the dog in his nightcap and _sans culottes_, as the -French say. Caniche made for home with the angry man after him. - -"Arriving at Dumont's house, Caniche gained admittance and deposited -the breeches at his master's feet. Just then the owner of the breeches -burst in, loudly demanding his property and accusing Dumont of having -taught his dog to steal. - -"'Softly, softly,' said Dumont. 'Caniche is no thief, and he would not -have done this without a reason. You have a coin in these breeches -that is not yours.' - -"At first the stranger denied this, and then he remembered the coin he -had picked up in the Boulevard St. Antoine. Explanations followed, the -breeches and gold were restored to the traveler and the six-livre -piece was handed to Caniche, who returned it to his master with the -air of one who had fulfilled his duty. Dumont's friend paid his wager -and Dumont opened a bottle of wine, and they all drank to the health -of the cleverest dog in France. - -"Whether that is a true story or not you must judge for yourselves. I -have told it as it was told to me, and I prefer not to vouch for it." - -Laughing over this story, and thanking Mr. Hartshorn for telling it to -them, the boys trooped off to bed. - -So far as Ernest and Jack Whipple were concerned, all the interest of -the second day of the Massatucket Dog Show centered about the judging -of the English setters. They had been studying the entry carefully, -and though there were some champions entered in the open and limit -classes, and though Mr. Hartshorn pointed out to them the superior -qualities of several of these dogs from the fancier's point of view, -it seemed to the boys that Romulus and Remus were as good as any dogs -there. - -"Don't set your hopes too high," cautioned Mr. Hartshorn. "They will -be pitted against some good dogs, and I don't want to see you too -greatly disappointed. One has to learn to lose in the dog-show game -more often than one wins." - -"Anyway," said Ernest, "I haven't seen anything in the novice class -that can beat them." - -At last the hour arrived for the judging of the setters. The puppy -class was disposed of first, and then the novices. Ernest and Jack led -their own dogs into the ring, with numbers pinned to their -coat-sleeves. The two dogs behaved beautifully, holding up their heads -and standing at attention, as their masters had patiently taught them -to do. They were both in good condition, their eyes bright and their -coats soft and glossy. It was quite evident to the spectators about -the ring that the other dogs in the novice class were not to be -compared with them. Ernest and Jack were quite unconscious of the fact -that they were being observed as much as the dogs and that there were -some people present who admired their bright eyes as much as those of -Romulus and Remus. But it was the judge of this class that held their -fixed attention. - -He was a brusque, dour-looking man, without a smile for anybody, but -he had a reputation for strict impartiality and for a true judgment of -dog-flesh. It did not take him long to reach his decision. With no -word of congratulation he handed Jack a blue ribbon and Ernest a red -one, and ushered them out of the ring. - -"The Remus dog has the best head and most shapely body," was all that -he said. - -But the spectators clapped and showered congratulations upon the boys, -and they were very happy. - -"I knew it, I knew it!" cried Jack in an ecstasy of triumph. "Nose -doesn't count in the show ring, and Remus is, in every other way, the -best dog in the world. I told you he'd have his day. Good old Remus!" - -And right before all those people he leaned down and hugged his dog -and kissed him on the silky ear. - -But that was only the beginning. Remus also took first in the open -class, which was more than Mr. Hartshorn had hoped for, and Romulus -took third. And when it came to the final contest of the winners, -Remus won reserve to Ch. The Marquis, a dog that had won his spurs in -the biggest shows in the country. He was the only dog in this bunch -that could beat Remus, and there were those who affirmed that in -another year Remus would defeat him. - -Ernest showed himself to be a good sport and was glad that Remus had -won. Jack communicated his high spirits to the other boys, and by the -time the afternoon was over they were in a hilarious mood and eager to -bring their trophies back to Boytown. They forgot their weariness, and -as the spectators began to leave the grounds, and it was proper to -release the dogs, they started off pell-mell, across the central oval -of the race track, boys and dogs together, shouting and barking in a -gladsome chorus. It was a goodly sight for some of the grown-ups to -see, and they paused to watch the frolic. - -"I'm so glad Remus won," said Mrs. Hartshorn, smiling upon them all. - -"Yes," responded her husband, "Jacky deserved it. He has stood by his -dog through thick and thin." - -As the boys and dogs came romping back, Mrs. Hartshorn observed, -"Youth is a wonderful thing." - -"Sometimes," said her husband, "I think it is a greater thing than -wisdom." - -Perhaps a vision of her own youth came back to her, for she leaned -against her husband's arm and softly quoted: - - "When all the world is young, lad, - And all the fields are green, - And every goose a swan, lad, - And every lass a queen; - Then hey, for boot and horse, lad! - Around the world away! - Young blood must have its course, lad, - And every dog his day." - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -ON HULSE'S POND - - -A week or so after the Massatucket Show, when Ernest Whipple's kennel -paper arrived, he and Jack scrutinized it eagerly for the account of -the show. The man who reported it had a great deal to say, in more or -less technical terms, about a good many of the dogs. He seemed to -pride himself on his ability to pick future winners and he was rather -free with his predictions. Romulus he mentioned favorably in passing, -referring to his enviable field-trial record. But to Remus he devoted -an entire paragraph. - -"This dog," he wrote, "owned by Master Jack Whipple, is a twin brother -to the afore-mentioned Romulus. Barring a slight weakness in the loins -and a look of wispiness about the stern, he was set down in good shape -and easily defeated the other novices. He has the classic type of -Laverack head, and this had much to do with his being placed reserve -to Ch. The Marquis in the winners class. He is a young dog, and with -proper treatment he should figure in the primary contests of next -winter. We predict a bright future on the bench for this Remus." - -Incidentally the boys were pleased to learn that Tippecanoe and Tyler -Too had won the prize for the best brace of beagles in the show, -besides some individual honors, and they rejoiced for their -bright-faced little acquaintances of the baggage car. - -The triumph of Remus was not short-lived. The residents of Boytown -learned through the local papers what had happened, and began to look -with a new interest upon these boys and their dogs as they passed -along the streets. Romulus came to be pointed out to strangers as a -coming field-trial champion, and Remus as a famous bench-show winner. -Such dogs were something for the citizens of any town to be proud of. -And there were not a few persons who gained thereby a new interest in -dogs, to the lasting betterment of their characters. - -As the autumn days came on, Ernest began to feel the call of the woods -and fields, and begged to be allowed to have a gun and go hunting with -Sam Bumpus. He was now a tall, good-looking lad of fifteen, and he -felt himself quite old enough to become a hunter. Besides, what is the -use of owning a fine bird dog if you don't hunt with him? - -Mrs. Whipple strongly objected, for she was afraid of guns, and at -last a compromise was reached. Ernest was to be allowed to go hunting -with Sam provided he would not ask to own or use a gun until he was -sixteen, and reluctantly he consented to this arrangement. Jack, who -was still only twelve, had not yet caught the hunting fever, and since -he owned a dog that could not hunt anyway, he was content to remain at -home, while Ernest spent his Saturdays afield with Sam. - -Sam Bumpus, during the past three years, had grown to be a less lonely -man. Through the boys he had made friends in town, and people began to -look upon him as less queer and to recognize his sterling virtues. And -all that made him happier. - -"It was a lucky day for me," he once said, "when I brought those -puppies down in my pockets." - -"It was a luckier day for us," responded Ernest with warmth. - -Now, tramping together 'cross country with their dogs, they became -even closer friends, and there was implanted in Ernest's character a -certain honesty and a love of nature that never left him. And withal, -it was great fun. - -Then came another winter, and one day, during the Christmas vacation, -Mr. Hartshorn invited the whole crowd of boys up to his house to enjoy -an indoor campfire. Mrs. Hartshorn, as usual, spread her table with a -wealth of good things to eat, and after the dinner they all gathered -in the big living-room, where huge logs were blazing and crackling in -the fireplace. - -"I only wish," said Ernest Whipple, "that there were more breeds of -dogs for you to tell us about, Mr. Hartshorn. I always enjoyed those -talks so much." - -"Do you think you know all about all the breeds now?" asked Mr. -Hartshorn, with a smile. - -"Well, no," confessed Ernest, "but I know something about them all, -and I have one or two good books to refer to. I guess there's always -more to be learned about everything." - -"That is true," said their host, "and fortunately there are always -good things being written about dogs by men who know them. I never let -a chance go by to add to my own fund of dog lore." - -Alfred Hammond and Horace Ames, who were home from college for the -holidays, were present at the campfire, and Alfred was now loudly -called upon for a dog story, Mr. Hartshorn insisting that he had told -every one he knew. Finally Alfred acceded to the demand. - -"I ran across two anecdotes the other day which may fill the bill," -said he. "I think they are both about collies, but I am not sure. The -first is about a Scotchman and his dog Brutus. The Scotchman, having -gone far out of his way in a storm, stopped at a lonely house and -asked for a shelter for the night. The owner of the house admitted him -and showed him to a chamber, and the Scotchman, being very weary, -prepared to go to bed. - -"Brutus, however, was not so readily satisfied with his strange -surroundings and proceeded to investigate. At length he returned to -his master and began tugging at the bedclothes. The Scotchman was at -last sufficiently aroused to follow the dog out of the room and down -the stairs, and Brutus led him to the door of a closed room and -sniffed at it very cautiously. Light which made its way through the -cracks indicated that the room was occupied. The Scotchman could find -no hole to peep through, but much to his surprise he heard several -voices, for he thought that he and his host were alone in the house. - -"He placed his ear to the door and heard enough to make him believe -that his life was in danger. He was a brave man, and prompt action -seemed necessary. Suddenly he pushed open the door and rushed in, -surprising half a dozen men. They reached for their weapons, but the -traveler was ready first. With his pistol he shot his host and cracked -another over the head. Brutus, meanwhile, attacked so vigorously and -to such good purpose that the man and his dog were able to escape -uninjured. He afterwards learned that the house where he had sought -hospitality was the resort of a gang of highwaymen. - -"The other story is rather tragic, but I guess I'll tell it, as it's -the only one I have left. A traveling merchant in England was riding -along on horseback, when he dropped a bag containing all his money. He -was quite unconscious of his loss, but his dog had seen the bag fall. -The dog began to run in front of the horse's head, barking, and -dashing back along the road, but the merchant, who must have been -uncommonly stupid, I think, did not understand the meaning of his -strange actions. The dog became more insistent, as the man urged his -horse ahead, barking in an unusual tone and snapping at the horse's -feet. - -"The merchant, who apparently did not know dogs very well, began to -fear that he was going mad. 'Mad dogs will not drink,' he reflected. -'At the next ford I will watch, and if he does not drink I must shoot -him.' - -"Of course, the dog was much too anxious and excited to drink at the -next ford, and his master shot him. After riding on a little way the -man began to be troubled with doubts and misgivings, and he turned his -horse about. When he reached the ford again, the dog was not there, -but the man traced him back along the road by the marks of his blood. - -"The merchant found his dog at last, lying beside the money-bag, -protecting his master's property with his last gasp. Remorsefully the -merchant stooped down and begged the dog's forgiveness. The faithful -animal licked his hand and looked up at him with eyes that seemed to -say, 'It's all right, my master. You didn't understand.'" - -No more stories being forthcoming, the talk soon drifted to other -things. The boys vied with one another in telling of instances which -illustrated the superior courage, intelligence, and faithfulness of -their own dogs, and then fell into reminiscence. They talked of the -awakening of interest in the dogs of Boytown and what it had meant to -each of them, of the activities of the Boytown Humane Society, of the -Boytown Dog Show in Morton's barn, of the days at Camp Britches and -the death of beloved Rags, of the Eastern Connecticut field trials and -the winning of Romulus, of the Massatucket Dog Show and the triumph of -Remus, and of all the good times the boys and their dogs had had -together. They quoted Sam Bumpus's quaint sayings and Tom Poultice's -good advice about the care of dogs, and they told dog stories that -they had read. - -"I don't see how anybody can help loving dogs," said Elliot Garfield. - -"There are men who hate them, though," said Mr. Hartshorn. "American -sheep growers, for example, are bitterly opposed to dogs, and many of -them would like to see the canine race annihilated. And it must be -admitted that the dog forms the greatest obstacle in the path of -increasing the important sheep-raising industry in the United States. -Dogs do kill sheep, and there's no denying it." - -"I thought there were laws to protect the sheep," said Ernest Whipple. - -"There are," said Mr. Hartshorn. "Some of them are good and some of -them are bad. Some of them place it in the sheep man's power to take -the law into his own hands and act as judge, jury, and executioner on -the spot, which of course is all wrong. But unfortunately the best of -the laws do not protect the sheep. The state may pay damages, but that -does not restore the slain sheep." - -"I don't see what can be done, then," said Theron Hammond, dolefully. - -"For one thing," said Mr. Hartshorn, "more study should be put on -these laws before they are passed. They should not be drawn up by -either partisans of the dog or of the sheep. They should aim to -eliminate ownerless dogs and to make all owners responsible for the -acts of their dogs. On the other hand, the sheep owners should not be -allowed to collect damages unless they can show that they have taken -due precautions on their own part, such as the erection of dog-tight -fences. A man has to keep up his fences to keep his neighbor's cows -out of his corn, or he has no redress. Why shouldn't a sheep owner be -compelled to do likewise? But the real cure for the menace of the -sheep-killing dog is more dog. The American sheep men don't seem to -have learned the lesson that the past has tried to teach them. For -centuries the trained shepherd dog has been the protection of the -flock in all sheep-raising countries, and is so to-day in Great -Britain, Europe, and Australia. I don't believe there are a dozen -first-class trained shepherd dogs in this country, except in the Far -West. In Scotland there are more dogs to the square mile than there -are in the United States, yet the Scotch don't try to legislate the -dog out of existence. The Scotch shepherd never thinks of taking out -his flock without his trained collie, and the result is that few sheep -are killed either by stray dogs or wild animals. When the American -sheep growers learn their lesson from the shepherds of other -countries, overcome their prejudice against the dog, and adopt the -method that has been successfully employed for centuries in other -countries, they will solve this problem, and not until then. I hope to -see the day come when the sheep man is numbered among the dog's best -friends here as he is in Scotland." - -A lively discussion followed, and then, still talking dogs, the boys -trudged home in the moonlight, over the crisp snow. - -A few days later the whole crowd was out skating on Hulse's Pond. A -week of clear, cold weather following a thaw had made ideal skating, -and Boytown was making the most of it. There were a number of young -men and girls out and a few older devotees of the sport, but the boys -and their dogs had full possession of one end of the pond. Here a game -of hockey was in progress, which was somewhat interfered with by the -activities of Tatters, who had grown into a fine, lively, sport-loving -dog. He seemed to think the game was arranged for his special benefit, -and he chased the puck to and fro across the ice wherever it went. -Another general favorite was Rover, who never tired of racing with the -skaters and particularly enjoyed pulling the younger children about on -their sleds. These small children had another name for him--Santa -Claus--and he indeed looked the part. Others of the dogs were enjoying -the sport, too, though Romulus and Remus showed a tendency to leave -the ice and go scouting off on imaginary trails in the neighborhood. - -Suddenly, while the fun was at its height, a sharp cry arose from the -upper end of the pond where the brook ran in. It was different from -the other shouts and cries that rang out over the ice; there was -terror in it. The loud, insistent barking of Tatters immediately -followed. - -The hockey game was interrupted, and everyone looked toward that end -of the pond to see what could be the matter. Tatters was running -excitedly about the edge of a hole where the ice had broken in, and in -the black water appeared the head and shoulders of little Eddie -Greene, who had ventured too near a dangerous spot and had broken -through the thin ice. - -The sounds of merrymaking suddenly ceased, and there was a general -rush in that direction. The bigger boys threw themselves flat on the -ice and tried to reach out to Eddie with their hands, but the ice -cracked alarmingly beneath the weight of so many of them, and they -dared not approach too close. - -"Get back, boys, get back!" cried Theron Hammond, who was always a -leader. "Get back, or we'll all go in." - -They saw that such a catastrophe would only make bad matters worse and -obeyed the command. Only Theron and Harry Barton remained to try to -reach the frightened little fellow, and they could not get near him. - -The water was deep, and Eddie was struggling wildly to keep from going -under the ice, which broke off wherever he grasped it. - -"Keep calm, Eddie," called Theron, but Eddie was terrified and could -not keep calm. His head went under once, and he seemed to be -weakening. Meanwhile Ernest Whipple and one or two of the others had -kicked off their skates and had run off in search of boards or fence -rails to throw across the hole, but there seemed to be none near by -and help was a long time coming. It began to look as though they would -be too late. - -It was a tense moment. Some of the little girls had begun to cry, and -there was one young lady who gave way to hysterics. No one seemed to -know what to do. It was awful to stand there and watch the little -fellow drown before their eyes. - -Then there came a sudden rush and a plunge and the black and white -head of Remus appeared beside that of the drowning boy. Though an -aristocrat of the bench show, this good dog had a brain that worked -quickly and a heart that knew no fear. - -It was a good thing that Remus had learned to be such a good swimmer -in days gone by; he had need of all his strength and skill now. He -seized the boy's collar in his teeth and struggled to drag him out. -But it could not be done. The ice broke repeatedly under the dog's -paws, and it was all he could do to keep the boy's head and his own -above water. He could only struggle bravely and cast imploring looks -toward the helpless humans. The water was ice-cold, of course, and it -sapped the good dog's strength. His efforts weakened and he tried no -more to climb out, but he never relaxed his hold. He would have gone -down to his death with the boy before he would have done that. - -Both heads went below the surface and came up again, and the dogged, -imploring look deepened in Remus's eyes. Jack Whipple called words of -encouragement, and it was pitiful to watch the noble dog's efforts to -respond. It was wonderful the way he held out, and in the end he won. -When it seemed as though the last atom of his strength must have been -spent, Ernest Whipple came running up with a plank which he threw -across the hole. Remus rested his paws on this and so was able to keep -from going under, but he had no strength left to drag himself and the -boy out. Eddie was now unconscious, and could not help himself. Then -Elliot Garfield and two other boys arrived with boards and fence -rails, and with these they built a sort of bridge across the dangerous -gap. Theron crawled cautiously out upon this, with Harry Barton -holding to his feet. He grasped Remus's collar, and with Harry's help -dragged the boy and the dog to firm ice. - -Eddie was seized in friendly arms and was rubbed and rolled until he -revived. Remus fell, faint and trembling, to the ice, and Jack -Whipple, unconscious of his own sobs, gathered the heroic dog to his -breast. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -EVERY DOG HIS DAY - - -Eddie Greene was hurried home and put to bed, and a doctor was called. -For a day or so he was watched over with tender solicitude by his -mother, but he soon insisted on getting up, and the doctor said that -the danger was past. His healthy young body recuperated rapidly and he -suffered no serious effects from his harrowing experience. In a few -days he was running about as well as ever, and his parents, watching -him, had good reason to bless the brave dog that had saved their boy's -life. - -But with Remus it was different. Almost immediately he showed signs of -having contracted a severe cold. Weakened as he was by exposure and -exhausted by his almost superhuman struggles in the water, he was in -no condition to combat the malady, and pneumonia set in. - -For days he lay dangerously ill on his bed in Rome, while Jack hoped -and prayed in vain for a noticeable turn for the better. Tom Poultice -came down and diagnosed the case and left some medicine, but still -Remus failed to show much improvement. Sam Bumpus came, too, and did -what he could, but he was forced to confess that the case was beyond -his powers. Remus was very weak and seemed unable to rally. Jack -Whipple was beside himself with anxiety. - -When Remus had distemper he received visits from a good many of the -boys in town, but that was nothing to the interest that was now -displayed in him. The boys of the Humane Society hung about the -Whipple gates at all hours of the day, vainly wishing that they might -be of some help. Mr. Morton, Mr. Pierson, and other prominent citizens -telephoned their inquiries. Mr. Fellowes came every day, and total -strangers rang the doorbell to ask how the sick dog was getting on. -All Boytown did its best to show honor and sympathy for the hero, but, -alas, that brought no relief to the poor dog suffering on his bed in -Rome. - -For some time now Mrs. Whipple had been unconsciously displaying a -different attitude toward the dogs. She never petted them; she was not -yet ready to go quite so far. But she never said anything against dogs -any more, and she had not concealed her pleasure and pride in the -triumphs that had been won by both Romulus and Remus. And now that -Remus was sick she made no attempt to conceal her anxiety, and -answered all the inquiries patiently. One day Mr. Whipple observed her -stealing out to Rome with a dish of warm broth, while the boys were -in school, and he couldn't help smiling a little. The mother's heart -had been won over at last. - -There came a day when Remus seemed to be getting worse instead of -better, and Tom Poultice was sent for again. Mr. Hartshorn himself -brought Tom over in the car from Thornboro. Tom tested the sick dog's -temperature and general condition and shook his head solemnly. - -"I'm afraid it's come to a crisis," said he. - -"Nothing more you can do?" asked Mr. Hartshorn. - -"I'm afraid not, sir," said Tom. - -"Then there's no time to be lost," said Mr. Hartshorn. "We must send -for Dr. Runkle. I ought to have done it before." - -They jumped into the car and drove down to the telegraph office. - -The next day Dr. Runkle appeared with Tom and Mr. Hartshorn. He was -the Bridgeport veterinary surgeon that had come too late to save poor -Rags. Mr. Hartshorn considered him the best veterinarian in the state. - -With gentle, skilful hands he made a thorough examination. - -"A bad case of pneumonia," said he. "The first thing to do is to get -him into a warmer place. This barn is all right for most things, but -he needs some artificial heat now." - -Mrs. Whipple was standing near, and Jack looked at her doubtfully. She -did not hesitate. Apparently she had forgotten all about her vow never -to allow the dogs into the house. - -"Bring him right into the house," said she. "Jack, you go and get some -of that burlap from the storeroom, and we'll make a bed for him in the -kitchen." - -Tom picked Remus up in his strong arms, and the little procession made -its way up to the house. Bringing up the rear came Romulus, a subdued -dog these last anxious days. His big eyes questioned the faces of his -human friends for the meaning of it all. He could not speak, but no -one showed a more genuine sympathy. - -Never before had Romulus attempted to enter the house. Now he seemed -to understand that the ban had been lifted. He followed quietly in -through the door, and no one said him nay. - -But I am happy to say that this story is not going to end sadly. I -don't believe I could tell it if it did. Dr. Runkle stayed at -Willowdale for three days, and each day he came down to attend his -patient. At last his skill and knowledge and the constant careful -nursing won the battle, and gradually Remus fought his way back to -health. His splendid constitution and stout heart stood him in good -stead, and once the crisis was passed, recovery was rapid and certain. - -And that is really the end of the story, though by no means the end of -Romulus and Remus. They were destined to live to a ripe old age, much -honored in Boytown, and to win many triumphs on field and bench. I -need not tell you how happy Jack Whipple was to have his beloved dog -restored to health and strength again. The rest of the family were -hardly less so, and all Boytown rejoiced. I will only tell what a few -of the people said and did, because Remus, you will agree, deserved -all the honors and all the love that could be heaped upon him. - -The first day that Jack was allowed to take Remus out into the -sunshine for a little airing, there was one who watched them from the -kitchen window. It was Irish Delia, who had objected so strenuously -when the puppies had first been brought into her kitchen. When Jack, -smiling happily, brought the dog in again, and Remus, whose legs were -still a bit unsteady, walked over to his dish for a drink of water, -Delia could restrain herself no longer. She flopped down on her knees -beside him, and putting her arms about him, sobbed unrestrainedly into -his soft coat. - -"Ach, Remus, dear," she cried, "ye niver knew it, but I loved ye like -me own brother." - -And what did Tom Poultice say after the danger was over? He placed a -kindly hand on Jack's shoulder and said, "I read a book once called -'The Mill on the Floss,' and there was a chap in it named Bob -Jakin--just a hordinary chap like me. One day 'e says to a lady, 'e -says, 'Hev a dog, Miss. They're better friends nor any Christian.' -I've always thought 'e was right, Jacky, and I think so now more than -ever." - -Mr. Hartshorn didn't say much. He was not the demonstrative kind, but -everyone knew what he thought. One day he told the boys that he had -just received a letter from a cousin of his in the West who was a -sheep man. - -"He hates dogs," said Mr. Hartshorn, "worse than coyotes. He always -makes fun of my sentimentality, as he calls it, and can't say too much -against an animal that can furnish neither eggs, milk, wool, nor meat. -He calls the dog a useless creature. I sat down and wrote him what -Remus did on Hulse's Pond, and asked him if he had ever heard of a -sheep that had saved a human life. I guess that will hold him for -awhile." - -Sam Bumpus didn't say much, either. He just stroked Remus's head and -patted his flank, and then remarked, "I've sometimes thought life was -a pretty tough proposition, but I reckon so long as there's boys an' -dogs in the world, we can manage to stagger along an' bear up under -it." - -What other people said didn't matter so much as what they did. Mr. -Morton quietly started a little affair of his own, and after he had -made numerous calls on business acquaintances of his, a little -ceremony took place in the Whipple yard, just outside of Rome. A -committee called, consisting of Mr. Morton, Mr. Pierson, and Mr. -Fellowes, and after a short speech was made by the banker, a bronze -medal was presented to Remus. - -"It isn't to be hidden away in a drawer somewhere," explained Mr. -Morton. "He's to wear it on his collar, and if he loses it, we'll get -him another one." - -One side of the medal bore the words, "Presented to Remus by the -citizens of Boytown." On the other side was a setter's head and the -words, "For heroism in saving human life." - -April came again to Boytown, and with it the bluebirds and robins, the -pussy willows and red maple blossoms, and the green buds of the -dogwoods that watched over the resting-place of Rags on the hill. With -it, too, came strength to the graceful limbs of Remus. There were -warm, sunny days, when it was good for dogs and boys to be out of -doors, and there were crisp, cool evenings, when a crackling fire on -the hearth was pleasant. - -Let us bid farewell to our friends as they sit before their open -fires, Sam Bumpus in his lonely shack, but not unhappy any more, Mr. -and Mrs. Hartshorn side by side in the big house at Willowdale, and -the Whipples in their pleasant sitting-room on Washburn Street. At one -side of the table sits Mrs. Whipple, sewing, with a look of -contentment on her face, mingled with pride as she watches the two -fine young fellows who are her sons. At the other side of the table -Mr. Whipple is reading aloud from that wonderful story, "Greyfriars -Bobby." Remus lies comfortably stretched out on one side of the hearth -and Romulus on the other, for they are no longer banished to Rome. The -house is none too good for them. And about each happy dog's neck are -entwined a loving master's arms. - - -THE END - - - - -THE MORE IMPORTANT BREEDS OF DOGS - - -I. NON-SPORTING AND UTILITY. - -A. LARGE DOGS. - - PAGE - =St. Bernard.= (109) St. Bernard Rough and smooth - varieties. Colors, red, orange, or - brindle with white markings, or white - with patches of these colors. Height, - 30 to 39 inches. Weight, 160 to 190 - pounds or more. - - =Mastiff.= (111) Colors, fawn or brindle, with black - on the head. Coat, short. Height, 28 - inches average. Weight, 170 pounds - average. - - =Newfoundland=. (111-112) Colors, jet black, black and white, - or brown and white. Height, 25 to - 29 inches. Weight, 110 to 150 pounds. - Coat, long. - - =Great Dane.= (115) Colors, brindle, fawn, blue, black, - and harlequin. Height, 28 inches up. - Weight, 90 pounds up. Coat, short. - -B. SMALLER DOGS. - - =English (57-58, Colors varying from pure white to dark - Bulldog.= 115-116) brindle. Weight, 40 to 50 pounds - average. Coat, short. - - =French Bulldog.= (116) Colors, any brindle or solid color - except black, black and white, black - and tan, liver, and mouse color. - Weight, 22 to 28 pounds. Coat, smooth. - - =Chow Chow.= (116) Colors, all red, black, chocolate - brown, blue, smoke, yellow, and white. - Weight, 30 pounds up. Coat long. - - =Poodle.= (116) Colors, all black, white, red, brown, - or blue. Coat, curly. - - =Dalmatian.= (118) Color, white with black or brown spots. - Height, 19 to 23 inches. Weight, 35 - to 50 pounds. Coat, short. - - =Schipperke.= (118) Tailless. Color, all black. Weight, - 12 to 20 pounds. Coat, medium, thick. - -C. SHEEP DOGS. - - =Collie.= (201-202) Colors not restricted. Height, 20 to - 24 inches. Weight, 40 to 65 pounds. - Coat, long. - - =Old English (189-190, Tailless. Any color permissible except - Sheep dog.= 205-206) sable, brown, and black, the most - popular being gray and white. Height, - 20 inches up. Coat, very long. - - =German Shepherd (206) Color, dark, grizzled gray commonest. - Dog.= Also black, iron gray, ash gray, - reddish tan, reddish brown, white, - and harlequin. Height, 21 to 26 inches. - Weight, 54 to 65 pounds. Coat, rather - short. - - =Belgian Sheep (206-207) Smooth and wire-coated, usually fawn - dog.= or sable. Long-coated or Groenendaele, - jet black. - - -II. SPORTING BREEDS. - -A. THE HOUND FAMILY. - - =Bloodhound.= (252) Colors, black and tan, red and tan, and - tawny. Coat, short. Height, 24 to 27 - inches. Weight, 80 pounds up. - - =Otterhound.= (252-253) Colors, gray, buff, black, red, and - mixtures. Height, 22 to 24 inches. - Coat, wiry. - - =Foxhound.= (253) Combination of black, white, and tan - preferred. Height, English foxhound, - 22 to 24 inches; American foxhound, - 20 to 24 inches. Coat, short. - - =Harrier.= (253) Foxhound colorings. Height, 16 to 19 - inches. Coat, short. - - =Beagle.= (253) Foxhound colorings. Height, 15 inches - maximum. Coat, short. - - =Dachshund.= (253-254) Colors, all reddish, black, brown, or - gray and tan, and dappled. Weight, - 17 to 24 pounds. The length is three - times the height. Coat, smooth. - - =Basset Hound.= (254) Black, white, and tan preferred. - Height, 12 inches average. Coat, - smooth. - -B. GREYHOUND FAMILY. - - =Greyhound.= (259) Any color allowable. Weight, 60 to 70 - pounds. Coat, smooth. - - - =Whippet.= (259-260) Colors, black, red, white, blue, - brindle, fawn, and mixtures. Height, - 18 to 23 pounds. Weight, 20 pounds - average. Coat, smooth. - - =Irish Wolfhound.= (261) Colors, gray, brindle, red, black, - white, or fawn. Height, 32 to 34 - inches. Weight, 140 pounds up. Coat, - wiry. - - =Scottish Deerhound.= (264) Blue-gray preferred; lighter gray, - brindle, yellow, sandy red, and fawn - acceptable. Height, 26 to 30 inches. - Weight, 65 to 105 pounds. Coat, rather - wiry. - - =Russian wolfhound.= (264) White predominates, often with markings - of tan, fawn, blue-gray, lemon, or - black. Height, 26 to 31 inches. Weight, - 65 to 100 pounds. Coat, long and silky. - -C. BIRD DOGS. - - =Sussex Spaniel.= (131) Color, golden liver or chestnut. - Weight, 35 to 45 pounds. Coat, long. - - =Clumber Spaniel.= (131) Color, pure white with lemon or orange - markings. Weight, 35 to 65 pounds. - Coat, long. - - =Field Spaniel.= (131) Color, pure black. Weight, 32 to 45 - pounds. Coat, long. - - =Cocker Spaniel.= (131) Coat, long. Colors, black, red, liver, - or parti-colored with white. Weight, - 18 to 24 pounds. - - =Irish Water (131-132) Coat, curly. Color, a deep, pure - Spaniel.= liver without white. Height, 21 to - 23 inches. - - =English Setter.= (133-134) Coat, long. Colors, white and - black, white and liver, white and - lemon or orange, white and tan, or - tri-color--black, white, and tan. - Flecked dogs are called beltons. - Height, 21 to 23 inches. Weight, - 35 to 55 pounds. - - =Irish Setter.= (134) Coat, long. Color, all red. Size, - same as English setter. - - =Gordon Setter.= (134) Coat, long. Color, black and tan. - Weight, somewhat greater than that - of the English setter. - - =Retriever.= (154-155) Wavy-coated variety, black or liver. - Curly-coated variety, dull black, - occasionally liver. Weight, 65 to - 80 pounds. - - =Labrador Dog.= (154) Coat, medium. Similar to wavy-coated - retriever. - - =Chesapeake Bay (155) Coat and color, variable. Height, 25 - Dog.= inches maximum. Weight, 65 to 80 - pounds or more. - - =Pointer.= (153-154) Coat, short Colors, liver and white, - lemon and white, black and white, and - other combinations; also ticked and - speckled. Height, 20 to 25 inches. - Weight, 45 to 60 pounds. - - =Wire-Haired (155) Coat, wiry. Color, steel-gray - Pointing Griffon.= with grizzled brown patches; also - gray-white with brown or yellow - patches. Height, 20 to 24 inches. - Weight, 56 pounds average. - - -III. THE TERRIERS. - -A. SMOOTH-COATED. - - =Manchester.= (69) Color, black and tan. Weight, 16 to - 20 pounds. - - =Bull Terrier.= (65, 69) Color, pure white. There are also - brindles, but they are not recognized. - Weight, 45 to 60 pounds. - - =Boston.= (69) Color, brindle and white. Weight, - 17 to 27 pounds. - - =Smooth Fox (69-70) Color, white, with black, sometimes - tan, markings. Weight, 20 pounds - maximum. - - =Doberman Pinscher.= (70) Color, black and tan. Height, 22 to - 26 inches. Weight, 40 to 48 pounds. - -B. WIRE-HAIRED. - - =Wire-Haired (71) Same as the smooth variety except for - Fox Terrier.= the coat. - - =Airedale.= (64-65, 71) Color, tan, with black or dark grizzled - body or saddle. Weight, 40 to 45 - pounds. Larger ones not approved. - - =Bedlington.= (71) Coat, mixture of soft and wiry. - Colors, dark blue, blue and tan, - liver, liver and tan, sandy, and - sandy and tan. Height 15 to 16 - inches. Weight, 22 to 24 pounds. - - =Irish.= (71) Colors, red or red wheaten. Weight, 22 - to 24 pounds. - - =Welsh.= (71) Colors, black and tan, or black, - grizzle, and tan. Height, 16 inches - average. Weight, 22 pounds average. - - =Scottish.= (72) Colors, steel or iron gray, brindle - or grizzle, black, sandy, and wheaton. - Height, 9 to 12 inches. Weight, 16 to - 20 pounds. - - =West Highland (72) Color, pure white. Height, 8 to 12 - White.= inches. Weight, 12 to 18 pounds. - - =Cairn.= (71-72) Colors, red sandy, gray, brindle, or - nearly black. Weight, 11 to 15 pounds. - - =Dandie Dinmont.= (72-73) The colors are gray, known as pepper, - and fawn, known as mustard. Height, 8 - to 11 inches. Weight, 14 to 24 pounds. - - =Sealyham.= (73) Color, white, or white with black or - brown markings, or both. Weight, 12 - to 17 pounds. - -C. LONG-HAIRED. - - =Skye.= (73-74) Colors, dark or light blue or gray, or - fawn with black points. Height, 8 to 9 - inches. Weight, 14 to 20 pounds. - - =Clydesdale.= (74) Color, steel blue and golden tan. - Weight, 18 pounds maximum. - - =Yorkshire.= (74) Color, dark steel blue with tan - markings. Weight, 5 to 12 pounds. - - -IV. TOY DOGS. - -A. SMOOTH-COATED. - - =Italian (82, 260) Colors, all shades of fawn, red, mouse, - Greyhound.= blue, cream, and white; also black, - brindle, and pied. Weight, 8 pounds - average. - - =Pug.= (82) Colors, black, silver fawn, or apricot - fawn, with black mask and trace. - Weight, 12 to 16 pounds. - - =Toy Manchester.= (82) Same as large Manchester, but weighing - only 4 to 7 pounds. - - =Toy Bull Terrier.= (82) Pure white preferred, brindle allowed. - Weight, 3 to 15 pounds. - - =Miniature Bulldog.= (82) Same as the large English bulldog, but - weighing less than 20 pounds. - - =Chihuahua.= (83) Colors, fawn, black, chocolate, cream, - and white. Weight, 23 ounces to 4 - pounds. - -B. WIRE-HAIRED. - - =Brussels Griffon.= (85) Colors, reddish, black and tan, gray, - or fawn. Weight, 6 to 10 pounds. - -C. LONG-HAIRED. - - =Pomeranian.= (83) Colors, white, black, blue, gray, - brown, sable, red, orange, fawn, or - parti-colored. Weight, 5 to 12 pounds. - - =English Toy (83-84) The four recognized varieties are the - Spaniel.= Blenheim, pure white with bright red, - orange, or chestnut markings; the ruby, - a chestnut red; the black and tan; the - tri-color, black, white, and tan. - Weight, 9 to 12 pounds. - - =Pekingese Spaniel.= (84) Colors, red, fawn, black, tan, brindle, - sable, white, and parti-colored. - Weight, 18 pounds maximum. - - =Japanese Spaniel.= (84-85) Colors, black and white or red and - white, the red including sable, - brindle, lemon, and orange. Weight, - 7 pounds average. - - =Maltese.= (85) Color, pure white with black points. - Weight, 10 pounds maximum. - - =Toy Poodle.= (85) Colors, all black, red, white, or blue; - white preferred. Weight, 4 to 10 - pounds. - - -V. ARCTIC AND SUB-ARCTIC BREEDS. - - =Eskimo.= (269) Coat, hard and dense. Color, grizzled - black or gray. Weight, 75 to 100 - pounds. - - =Husky.= (269) Color, variable. Weight, 125 pounds up. - - =Samoyede.= (268) Coat, medium long. Color, usually - white; also black, black and white, - brown, and fawn. - - =Spitz.= (268) Coat, long. Color, white or wolfish - gray. - - =Norwegian (268-269) Coat, thick and coarse. Color, grizzled - Elkhound.= brown or black. Height, 20 inches - average. - - - - -THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT DOGS - - - Bench shows, 157-159, 245 _et seq._ - - Championship, how won, 158 - - Convulsions, 91, 93 - - Discipline, 22-23 - - Distemper, 88 _et seq._ - - Eczema, 104-105 - - Feeding, 39, 53-55 - - Field trials, 218-221, 230 _et seq._ - - Fleas, 127-128 - - Gun-shy dogs, 24 - - How to approach a dog, 267 - - Judging show dogs, 174-175 - - Medicine, how to administer, 51-52 - - Puppies, care of, 39, 53 - - Sheep, dogs used with, 286-288 - - Skin troubles, 104-105 - - Teeth, 120-121, 123-124 - - Training bird dogs, 21-24, 137-138, 140-141, 142, 144 - - Worms, 50-51 - - - - -COMPANION STORIES OF COUNTRY LIFE -FOR BOYS_ By CHARLES P. BURTON_ - - -THE BOYS OF BOB'S HILL - -Illustrated by GEORGE A. WILLIAMS, 12mo. $1.30 net. - -A lively story of a party of boys in a small New England town. - - "A first-rate juvenile ... a real story for the live human - boy--any boy will read it eagerly to the end ... quite thrilling - adventures."--_Chicago Record-Herald._ - - "Tom Sawyer would have been a worthy member of the Bob's Hill - crowd and shared their good times and thrilling adventures with - uncommon relish.... A jolly group of youngsters as nearly true - to the real thing in boy nature as one can ever expect to find - between covers."--_Christian Register._ - - -THE BOB'S CAVE BOYS - -Illustrated by VICTOR PERARD. $1.30 net. - - "It would be hard to find anything better in the literature of - New England boy life. Healthy, red-blooded, human boys, full of - fun, into trouble and out again, but frank, honest, and - clean."--_The Congregationalist._ - - -THE BOB'S HILL BRAVES - -Illustrated by H. S. DELAY. 12mo. $1.30 net. - -The "Bob's Hill" band spend a vacation in Illinois, where they play at -being Indians, hear thrilling tales of real Indians, and learn much -frontier history. A history of especial interest to "Boy Scouts." - - "Merry youngsters. Capital. Thrilling tales of the red men and - explorers. These healthy red-blooded, New England - boys."--_Philadelphia Press._ - - -THE BOY SCOUTS OF BOB'S HILL - -Illustrated by GORDON GRANT, 12mo. $1.30 net. - -The "Bob's Hill" band organizes a Boy Scouts band and have many -adventures. Mr. Burton brings in tales told around a campfire of La -Salle, Joliet, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Northwestern -Reservation. - - -CAMP BOB'S HILL - -Illustrated by GORDON GRANT. $1.30 net. - -A tale of Boy Scouts on their summer vacation. - - HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY - PUBLISHERS NEW YORK - - - - -BY ALFRED BISHOP MASON - -TOM STRONG, WASHINGTON'S SCOUT - -Illustrated. $1.30 net. - -A story of adventure. The principal characters, a boy and a trapper, -are in the Revolutionary army from the defeat at Brooklyn to the -victory at Yorktown. - - "The most important events of the Revolution and much general - historical information are woven into this interesting and very - well constructed story of Tom and a trapper, who serve their - country bravely and well. Historical details are correctly - given."--_American Library Association Booklet._ - - -TOM STRONG, BOY-CAPTAIN - -Illustrated. $1.30 net. - -Tom Strong and a sturdy old trapper take part in such stirring events -following the Revolution as the Indian raid with Crawford and a -flat-boat voyage from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, etc. - - -TOM STRONG, JUNIOR - -Illustrated. $1.30 net. - -The story of the son of Tom Strong in the young United States. Tom -sees the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr; is in -Washington during the presidency of Jefferson; is on board of the -"Clermont" on its first trip, and serves in the United States Navy -during the War of 1812. - - -TOM STRONG, THIRD - -Illustrated. $1.30 net. - -Tom Strong, Junior's son helps his father build the first railroad in -the United States and then goes with Kit Carson on the Lewis and -Clarke Expedition. - - HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY - - PUBLISHERS NEW YORK - - - - -THE HOME BOOK OF VERSE FOR YOUNG FOLKS - -_Compiled by_ BURTON E. STEVENSON, _Editor of "The Home Book of -Verse."_ - -_With cover, and illustrations in color and black and white by WILLY -POGANY. Over 500 pages, large 12mo. $2.00 net._ - - -Not a rambling, hap-hazard collection but a vade-mecum for youth from -the ages of six or seven to sixteen or seventeen. It opens with -Nursery Rhymes and lullabies, progresses through child rhymes and -jingles to more mature nonsense verse; then come fairy verses and -Christmas poems; then nature verse and favorite rhymed stories; then -through the trumpet and drum period (where an attempt is made to teach -true patriotism) to the final appeal of "Life Lessons" and "A Garland -of Gold" (the great poems for all ages). - -This arrangement secures sequence of sentiment and a sort of -cumulative appeal. Nearly all the children's classics are included, -and along with them a body of verse not so well known but almost -equally deserving. There are many real "finds," most of which have -never before appeared in any anthology. - -Mr. Stevenson has banished doleful and pessimistic verse, and has -dwelt on hope, courage, cheerfulness and helpfulness. The book should -serve, too, as an introduction to the greater poems, informing taste -for them and appreciation of them, against the time when the boy or -girl, grown into youth and maiden, is ready to swim out into the full -current of English poetry. - - HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY - PUBLISHERS NEW YORK - - - - -BY ALICE CALHOUN HAINES - -_For Young Folks from 9 to 16 Years old._ - - -PARTNERS FOR FAIR - -With illustrations by FAITH AVERY. $1.35 net - -A story full of action, not untinged by pathos, of a boy and his -faithful dog and their wanderings after the poor-house burns down. -They have interesting experiences with a traveling circus; the boy is -thrown from a moving train, and has a lively time with the Mexican -Insurrectos, from whom he is rescued by our troops. - - -THE LUCK OF THE DUDLEY GRAHAMS - -Illustrated by FRANCIS DAY. 300 pp., 12mo. $1.35 net. - -A family story of city life. Lightened by humor and an airship. - - "Among the very best of books for young folks. Appeals - especially to girls."--_Wisconsin List for Township Libraries._ - - "Promises to be perennially popular. A family of happy, - healthy, inventive, bright children make the best of restricted - conditions and prove themselves masters of - circumstances."--_Christian Register._ - - "Sparkles with cleverness and humor."--_Brooklyn Eagle._ - - -COCK-A-DOODLE HILL - -A sequel to the above. Illustrated by FRANCIS DAY. - -296 pp., 12mo. $1.35 net. - -"Cockle-a-doodle Hill" is where the Dudley Graham family went to live -when they left New York, and here Ernie started her chicken-farm, with -one solitary fowl, "Hennerietta." The pictures of country scenes and -the adventures and experiences of this household of young people are -very life-like. - - "No better book for young people than 'The Luck of the Dudley - Grahams' was offered last year. 'Cock-a-Doodle Hill' is another - of similar qualities."--_Philadelphia Press._ - - - HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY - - PUBLISHERS (VIII'12) NEW YORK - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dogs of Boytown, by Walter A. 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Dyer. @@ -180,45 +180,7 @@ hr.c65 </style> </head> <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dogs of Boytown, by Walter A. Dyer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Dogs of Boytown - -Author: Walter A. Dyer - -Release Date: November 23, 2012 [EBook #41444] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOGS OF BOYTOWN *** - - - - -Produced by Mary Akers, Greg Bergquist and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41444 ***</div> <div class="transnote"> <p>Transcriber's note:<br /> @@ -8459,7 +8421,7 @@ criminals.</p> the hound of Montargis. He may have been a St. Hubert hound, or one of the other French hounds, though I have always suspected that he may have been -a mâtin or dog of the Great Dane type. But the +a mâtin or dog of the Great Dane type. But the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span> breed is a matter of minor importance. The main features of the story are somewhat as follows:</p> @@ -8511,7 +8473,7 @@ to fight a duel. King Charles decided to adopt this method in an effort to determine whether or not Macaire was guilty, and he ordered a trial combat to take place between the man and the dog at the -Château of Montargis on the Isle of Notre Dame, +Château of Montargis on the Isle of Notre Dame, Paris. The man was given a stout cudgel as his only weapon, while the dog was provided with an empty cask into which he might retreat if too hard @@ -10791,383 +10753,7 @@ similar qualities."—<cite>Philadelphia Press.</cite></p> <p class="center large">HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY<br /> PUBLISHERS (<span class="smcap medium">viii</span>'12) NEW YORK</p> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dogs of Boytown, by Walter A. 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