onel in placing
the splintered bones as straight as he could was inflicting a great deal
of pain.

"Can't help it, Canis, my friend," said the Colonel. "If you are to get
better I want it to be with straight legs, and not to have you a
miserable odd-legged cripple. There, I shall soon be done. That
bandage is too dry, Gwyn; moisten it again. Wring it out. That's
right; now dip it in the plaster."

"What's that for, sir?" said Joe, who was looking on eagerly.

"What do you think?" replied the Colonel. "Now, Gwyn, right under, and
hold it like a hammock while I lay the leg in. I'm obliged to hold it
firmly to keep the bones in their places. Now, right over and tighten
it. That's it. Round again. Now go on. Round and round. Well done.
Now I'll finish. Well," he continued, as he took the ends of the
bandage and braced the dog's leg firmly, "why do I use this nasty white
plaster, Joe?"

"Because it will set hard and stiff round the broken leg."

"Good boy," said the Colonel, smiling, "take him up; Gwyn didn't see
that."

"Yes I did, father; but I didn't like to bother you and speak."

"Then stop where you are, boy. Keep down, Joe; he behaved the better of
the two. You are both right; the plaster and the linen will mould
themselves as they dry to the shape of the dog's legs, and if we can
keep him from trying to walk and breaking the moulds, Nature may do the
rest. At all events, we will try. When the linen is firm, I'll bind
splints of wood to them as well, so as to strengthen the plaster, though
it is naturally very firm."

"It will be a job to keep him quiet, father," said Gwyn.

"I'm afraid so, my boy. Not, however, till the plaster sets; that
cannot take very long, and we shall have to hold him down if it's
necessary; but I don't think it will be. Poor fellow, he'll very likely
go to sleep."

As he spoke, the Colonel was busily employed finishing the bandaging,
and when this was done he stood thinking, while the dog lay quiet
enough, blinking at those who had been operating upon him.

"We might secure his legs somehow," said the Colonel, thoughtfully; "for
all our success depends upon the next hour."

But Grip solved the difficulty by stretching himself out on one side
with his bandaged legs together, and, closing his eyes, went off fast
asleep, with the boys watching him--the Colonel having gone into the
house, for it had turned too dark for him to go on grape-thinning long
before the