and sounded a prolonged and musical trill, like the purling of
a brook. The chipmunk came nearer and nearer, his timidity gradually
passing away. And now, in the distance, another rush through the
shrubbery was heard, and another chipmunk swiftly came out into the
open, presently joining his mate, and approaching nearer and nearer to
Leon, in short runs. At length they were quite close to him, and he
took some peanuts from his pocket. One at a time he threw this
tempting food to the little animals, who quickly nibbled off the outer
shell and abstracted the kernels, sitting up, their tails gracefully
curled over their backs. As Leon continued his chirping to his wild
pets, two searching eyes were gazing with intense interest upon the
scene. And the man who owned those eyes thought thus of what he saw:

"He has inherited the power. It is untrained at present, but it will
be easily developed."

A few moments later, Leon waved his hand and the chipmunks scurried
off, leaving the youth once more to his meditations. But soon again he
was interrupted. This time the noise of the approaching creature was
readily discernible even while he was yet afar off, and in a few
moments there came bounding through the brush a magnificent collie,
sable and white, and beautifully marked. This was Lossy, or, rather,
"The Marquis of Lossy," to give him his full title. Lossy was truly a
perfect collie, with long pointed nose, eyes set high in the forehead,
and beaming with human intelligence and a dog's love, which, we all
know, transcends the human passion which goes by the same name; his
ears were small and, at rest, carried so close to the head that,
buried in the long fur they were scarcely discernible, yet, they
pricked sharply forward when a sound attracted, giving the face that
rakish look so peculiar to the species; and besides a grand coat of
long, fine hair, and a heavy undercoat for warmth, he had a glorious
bushy tail, carried at just the curve that lent a pleasing symmetry to
the whole form. In short, Lossy was a collie that would prove a
prize-winner in any company.

But what was better than mere physical beauty, he was an exception in
intelligence, even for a collie, and lavished a wealth of love upon
his young master. On this morning, Leon had purposely stolen away
without the dog, for the pleasure of what now occurred. Lossy, finally
awakening from his morning nap, and missing his master, had started
after him taking almost