red in the area, talking to himself
while going about his work. We heard him say in a hesitating manner, "I
could not help almost fancying that I heard my poor Captain's bark; but
I know it is nothing but my folly, always thinking of him. He's been and
got himself stolen by some of those London dog-stealers. _I_ shall never
see him again, poor fellow."

I barked again. John looked up, and there I stood, only too happy to be
able to contradict him. Extraordinary, that knowing me as he did, he
should have thought me capable of deserting my best friends and letting
myself be enticed away by a dog-stealer! I hoped I had more sense than
that.

John said not another word, but rushed up stairs and threw the
street-door wide open. In my rapture at meeting him I forgot all
ceremony; and standing bolt upright on my hind-legs, with my fore-paws
on his shoulders, I licked his face all over. But he was too glad to see
me to take offence at my familiarity, and patted my head and returned my
caresses with cordiality equal to my own.

At first he did not see my little fellow-traveller, who, in her modest
reluctance to be intrusive, held back during the rough greetings between
John and me. But in proper time she felt it due to herself to come
forward and assert her presence; so, setting her tail bolt upright like
a standard, she began pacing softly backwards and forwards, purring
affectionately, and rubbing herself against John's legs at every turn.

"Well, Pussy," said John, as he stooped to stroke her head, "it would
take a good many human creatures to surprise me as much as you two dumb
animals have done. But come in. Come, Captain, my boy; come, little
Puss."

So saying, he ushered us across the hall to our master's study, and
tapped at the door.

"Come in," called our master.

John opened the door, and stood there without speaking a word, while
Puss and I walked forwards to our master's chair, she purring and I
wagging my tail as usual, expecting him to say something civil, but not
prepared for astonishment in our wise master. I thought we had left all
that sort of thing behind with Peggy. But my master looked up and down,
at John and us, us and John again, several times in silence. At last he
said, "It is the most extraordinary thing I ever saw. How and when did
they come?"

"Not five minutes ago, sir," answered John; "both together, as you see;
and to judge from their dusty look, they must have walked all the way."

"