s. Michael lay down sullenly to one side, and took no
part in the rush for the trough when permission was given. Again Davis
danced among them, kicking away the stronger and the more eager.

"If they get to fighting after all we've done for them, kick in their
ribs, lovey," he told his wife.

"There! You would, would you?"--this to a large black dog, accompanied
by a savage kick in the side. The animal yelped its pain as it fled
away, and, from a safe distance, looked on piteously at the steaming
food.

"Well, after this they can't say I don't never give my dogs a bath,"
Davis remarked from the sink, where he was rinsing his arms. "What d'ye
say we call it a day's work, my dear?" Mrs. Davis nodded agreement. "We
can rehearse them to-morrow and next day. That will be plenty of time.
I'll run in to-night and boil them some bran. They'll need an extra meal
after fasting two days."

The potatoes finished, the dogs were put back in their cages for another
twenty-four hours of close confinement. Water was poured into their
drinking-tins, and, in the evening, still in their cages, they were
served liberally with boiled bran and dog-biscuit. This was Michael's
first food, for he had sulkily refused to go near the potatoes.

* * * * *

The rehearsing took place on the stage, and for Michael trouble came at
the very start. The drop-curtain was supposed to go up and reveal the
twenty dogs seated on chairs in a semi-circle. Because, while they were
being thus arranged, the preceding turn was taking place in front of the
drop-curtain, it was imperative that rigid silence should be kept. Next,
when the curtain rose on full stage, the dogs were trained to make a
great barking.

As a filler-in, Michael had nothing to do but sit on a chair. But he had
to get upon the chair, first, and when Davis so ordered him he
accompanied the order with a clout on the side of the head. Michael
growled warningly.

"Oh, ho, eh?" the man sneered. "It's Fresh Dog looking for trouble.
Well, you might as well get it over with now so your name can be changed
to Good Dog.--My dear, just keep the rest of them in order while I teach
Fresh Dog lesson number one."

Of the beating that followed, the least said the better. Michael put up
a fight that was hopeless, and was thoroughly beaten in return. Bruised
and bleeding, he sat on the chair, taking no part in the performance and
only sullenly engendering a deeper and bitterer sournes