with them. The
tradespeople, who had at first approached very delicately, had now grown
used to him; but the tramp or hawker who entered the garden at Midway,
and found Zero looking at him pensively, as a rule retired quickly to
see if the road was still there. No further instance had occurred of
Zero's mysterious powers, and in consequence they tended to become
legendary. Richard Staines had now definitely adopted the theory of
coincidence.

"Zero's a good old friend of mine, and I love him," he said; "but we
must give up pretending he's a miracle." Jane's faith, however, remained
unshaken.

And then, one summer evening, Dick came into the drawing-room with
determination in his face.

"Mother," he said, "I want a stick or whip, please."

"Well, now," said Jane, "what for?"

"To beat my dog with. He's got to be punished."

"That's a pity, Dickywick. What's he been doing?"

"He won't let me go out into the road. Every time he caught hold of my
coat and pulled me back. He's most frightfully strong, and he pulled me
over once. He wants a lamming."

"I wonder if he would let me go out," said Jane. "Let's go and see,
shall we?"

"Right-oh," said Dick, perfectly satisfied.

In the garden they found Zero cheerful and quite unrepentant. As a rule,
he rushed to the gate in the hopes of being taken out for a run. But
this evening, as Jane neared the gate, he became disquieted. He caught
hold of her dress and tried to drag her back. He ran round and round
her, whimpering. He flung himself in front of her feet.

"Now, you see," said Dick triumphantly.

"Yes, I see."

"Well, I shall go and fetch a stick."

"Oh, no. Zero does not want us to go out because he believes there's
some danger on the road."

"O-o-oh! Do you really mean it?"

"Honest Injun."

"Then he's not a bad dog at all, and I told him he was. Come here,
Zero." He patted the dog's head. "You're a good dog really. My mistake.
Sorry. What are you laughing at, mother? That's what Tom always says.
Now let's go and see the danger on the road."

"Well, it wouldn't be quite fair to Zero, after all the trouble he's
taken. Besides, I want to see the rabbits at their games. They ought to
be out just now."

"All right," said Dick. "You follow me, and I'll show you them. But you
mustn't make the least sound. You must be very Red-Indian."

Dick's mother followed him obediently, and was very Red-Indian. The
rabbits lived in a high bank just beyond the far e