they discussed the Major's absence the more alarmed they
became, as the time passed and he did not return.

"You know," suggested Lloyd, "that with just one arm he couldn't help
himself much if he should fall. Maybe he has slipped down some of those
muddy ravines that the goatherd told about. Besides, he was so weak and
tiahed this mawnin.'"

Presently her face brightened with a sudden thought.

"Oh, Papa Jack! Let's send Hero. I know where the Majah keeps his things,
the flask and the bags, and the dog will know, as soon as they are
fastened on him, that he must start on a hunt. And I believe I can say the
words in French so that he'll undahstand. Only yestahday the Majah had me
repeating them."

"That's a bright idea," answered her father, who was really more anxious
than he allowed any one to see. "At least it can do no harm to try."

"I don't want any dessert. Mayn't I go now?" Lloyd asked. As she hurried
up the stairs, her heart beating with excitement, she whispered to
herself, "Oh, if he _should_ happen to be lost or hurt, and Hero should
find him, it would be the loveliest thing that evah happened."

Hero seemed to know, from the moment he saw the little flask marked with
the well-known Red Cross, what was expected of him. All the guests in the
inn gathered around the door to see him start on his uncertain quest. He
sniffed excitedly at his master's slipper, which Lloyd held out to him.
Then, as she motioned toward the mountain, and gave the command in French
that the Major had taught her, he bounded out into the gloaming, with
several quick short barks, and darted up the narrow street that led to the
mountain road.

Maybe if he had not been with his master that way, the day before, he
might not have known what path to take. The heavy rain had washed away all
trails, so he could not trace him by the sense of smell; but remembering
the path which they had travelled together the previous day, he
instinctively started up that.

The group in the doorway of the inn watched him as long as they could see
the white line of his silvery ruff gleam through the dusk, and then, going
back to the parlour, sat down to wait for his return. To most of them it
was a matter of only passing interest. They were curious to know how much
the dog's training would benefit his master, under the circumstances, if
he should be lost. But to the Little Colonel it seemed a matter of life
and death. She walked nervously up and down th