canine surgery was at an end.

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

A MAN'S PURSUITS.

The boys watched beside the dog till past ten o'clock, when the Colonel
came in and examined the bandages.

"Set quite hard," he said, "and he's sleeping fast enough. Nature
always seems kind to injured animals. They curl up and go to sleep till
they're better."

"Then you think he'll get better, sir?" said Joe.

"Can't say, my boy; but you had better be off home to bed."

"Yes, sir," said Joe. "Coming part of the way with me, Gwyn?"

Gwyn glanced at his father before saying yes, for he expected to hear an
objection.

But the Colonel's attention was fixed upon the dog.

"Let him sleep," he said; "he'll be all right here till morning."

"But if he stirs, he may fall off the cistern and hurt himself again,
father."

"No fear, my boy. I don't suppose he will attempt to move all night.
There, off with you, Gwyn, if you are going part of the way."

The boys followed the Colonel out of the vinery, the door was shut, and
the ascending lane leading to the Major's house was soon reached, and
then the rugged down.

"Precious dark," said Gwyn; but there was no answer. "Sleep, Jolly?"
said Gwyn, after a few moments.

"Eh? No; I was thinking. I say, though, how precious dark it is;" for
they could not see a dozen yards.

"Yes, but what were you thinking about?"

"The dog."

"Oh, yes, of course, so was I; but what about him?" said Gwyn, sharply.

"How he got hurt?"

"Chopped in the man-engine. You heard."

"Yes, but I don't believe it."

"Here's a miserable unbeliever," said Gwyn, mockingly. "How did he get
hurt, then?"

"Someone did it."

"Oh, nonsense! It isn't likely. The machine did it, same as it would
you or me if we weren't careful."

"But that wasn't how poor old Grip was hurt."

"How then?"

"I feel sure he was hurt with an iron bar."

"Why, who would hurt him in that brutal way?"

"Someone who hated him."

"Gammon!"

"Very well--gammon, then. But when did we see him last?"

"Last? Last? Oh, I know; when we went to the smelting-house to find
Tom Dinass."

"Well, we left him behind there. The door must have swung-to and shut
him in."

"Then you think Tom Dinass did it."

"Yes, I do."

"Then I say it's all prejudice. Tom's turning out a thoroughly good
fellow. See how willing he was over the fishing, and how he helped us
this evening. You're always picking holes in Tom Dinass's coat.