d and neck. Now,
feeling the collar under the thatch, he slipped it out and brought the
brass plate up to the light.

"Propose your toast to Greyfriars Bobby, Captain. His story is vouched
for by no less a person than the Lord Provost. The 'bittie' dog seems to
have won a sort of canine Victoria Cross."

The toast was drunk standing, and, a cheer given. The company pressed
close to examine the collar and to shake Bobby's lifted paw. Then,
thinking the moment had come, Bobby rose in the begging attitude,
prostrated himself before them, and uttered a pleading cry. His new
friend assured him that he would be taken home.

"Bide a wee, Bobby. Before he goes I want you all to see his beautiful
eyes. In most breeds of dogs with the veil you will find the hairs of
the face discolored by tears, but the Skye terrier's are not, and
his eyes are living jewels, as sunny a brown as cairngorms in pebble
brooches, but soft and deep and with an almost human intelligence."

For the third time that day Bobby's veil was pushed back. One shocked
look by this lover of dogs, and it was dropped. "Get him back to that
grave, man, or he's like to die. His eyes are just two cairngorms of
grief."

In the hush that fell upon the company the senior officer spoke sharply:
"Take him down at once, Sergeant. The whole affair is most unfortunate,
and you will please tender my apologies at the churchyard and the
restaurant, as well as your own, and I will see the Lord Provost."

The military salute was given to Bobby when he leaped from the table at
the sergeant's call: "Come awa', Bobby. I'll tak' ye to Auld Jock i' the
kirkyaird noo."

He stepped out onto the lawn to wait for his pass. Bobby stood at his
feet, quivering with impatience to be off, but trusting in the man's
given word. The upper air was clear, and the sky studded with stars.
Twenty minutes before the May Light, that guided the ships into the
Firth, could be seen far out on the edge of the ocean, and in every
direction the lamps of the city seemed to fall away in a shower of
sparks, as from a burst meteor. But now, while the stars above were as
numerous and as brilliant as before, the lights below had vanished. As
the sergeant looked, the highest ones expired in the rising fog. The
Island Rock appeared to be sinking in a waveless sea of milk.

A startled exclamation from the sergeant brought other men out on the
terrace to see it. The senior officer withheld the pass in his hand,