id Edward, "I am almost ready for you; but
the question is, how are we to take the calf? It is as wild as a deer."

"It will be a puzzler, without Smoker can run it down," said Humphrey.

"I take him, with Smoker," said Pablo.

"How will you take it, Pablo?"

Pablo went to the cart and took out a long small cord which Humphrey had
brought with them, and made a noose at one end; he coiled the rope in
his hand, and then threw it out to its full length, by way of trial.
"This way I take him, suppose I get near enough. This way take bulls in
Spain: call him lasso. Now come with me." Pablo had his rope again
coiled in his hand, and then went round to the other side of the calf,
which still remained lowing at about 200 yards' distance.

"Now tell Smoker," cried Pablo.

Humphrey set Smoker upon the calf, which retreated from the dog,
presenting his head to run at it; and Pablo kept behind the animal,
while Smoker attacked it, and drove it near to him.

As soon as the calf, which was so busy with the dog that it did not
perceive Pablo, came sufficiently near to him, Pablo threw his rope, and
caught the loop round the animal's neck. The calf set off galloping
towards Humphrey, and dragging Pablo after him, for the latter was not
strong enough to hold it.

Humphrey went to his assistance, and then Edward, and the calf was
thrown down by Smoker, who seized it by the neck, and it was tied and
put on the cart in a few minutes.

"Well done, Pablo! You are a clever fellow," said Edward, "and this
calf shall be yours."

"It is a cow-calf," said Humphrey, "which I am glad of. Pablo, you did
that well, and, as Edward says, the calf belongs to you."

Pablo looked pleased, but said nothing.

The meat and hide were put into the cart with some of the offal which
Alice had asked for the dogs, and they set off on their return home.

Humphrey was very anxious to go to Lymington, and was not sorry that he
had some meat to take with him: he determined to get off the next
morning; and Edward proposed that he should take Pablo with him, that he
might know the way there in case of any emergency, for they both felt
that Pablo could be trusted. Edward said he would remain at home with
his sisters, and see if he could be of any use to Alice; if not, there
would be work in the garden. Humphrey and Pablo went away after
breakfast, with Billy, and the meat and skin of the heifer in the cart.
Humphrey had also a large basket of eggs