after a bit, lugged out from his van, with much
deliberation of movement and `gingerliness' of manner, a huge black
retriever, who apparently did not wish just then to issue forth from his
retreat.

No sooner, however, had the imprisoned animal once more touched the firm
ground of the platform with his four paws, than, carried away with
delight at being able to stand again on something that wasn't moving, he
suddenly wrenched himself free from the guard and began plunging about
in a mad gambol around.

"Come here, Rover!" cried Bob. "Come here, Rover!" echoed Nellie, alike
in vain; for, although Rover approached and jumped up on each in turn in
expression of his pleasure at seeing them, he would dart away the next
instant out of reach, evidently afraid lest the chain should be taken
hold of, and he be boxed up again in purgatory. He would not attend to
any, "Come here, sir!"

"He's too artful to be caught, sir," said the guard, laughing at the
dog's antics. "He's too knowing by half."

"Oh, he'll come along fast enough after me," answered Bob with some
reserve of manner, thinking it rather beneath his dignity, as well as
unjust to Rover, to bandy words about the latter's disobedience of
orders; and so, he walked on up the platform, whistling as he went and
followed by Nellie, towards where aunt Polly and the Captain were
chatting, the old sailor explaining to Mrs Gilmour how Dick's
acquaintance had been made, she having been much impressed by his civil
and attentive demeanour, if not by his appearance.

"Come on!" shouted Bob between his whistles, as he got nearer; Nellie,
close behind him, likewise whistling and repeating his cry, "Come on,
Rover!"

Rover came on; but, not altogether in the way his young master and
mistress wished.

Galloping now in front, now in rear of the two, and then prancing
towards them sideways, but always out of reach, he whirled his heavy
chain about like a lasso, to the danger of everybody around; many of the
passengers being still on the platform looking after their belongings or
waiting for cabs, most of the vehicles that had been drawn up on the
cab-rank having already driven off loaded.

"Do catch hold of him, Bob!" cried poor Nellie in accents of alarm.
"He'll trip up somebody."

Rover seemed to hear and understand what she said; and, as if anxious to
oblige her, at once twirled his clattering chain round the legs of a fat
old lady, who, with her arms full of a number of