his
time, when Douglas was at school, on his chain by the back-door, an
injustice which the boy resented as bitterly as the dog.

After an interval of this restraint the discipline was gradually
relaxed, and Bully at times was allowed his usual freedom.

Douglas was scarcely surprised when the farmer appeared at their house
again, this time with his enemy the cowboy.

'Here sir,' Farmer Wilkins hailed the boy, 'that dog of yours has made
away with four as nice pullets as ever I saw.'

'I don't believe it,' said Douglas, bluntly.

'Well, here is my boy. Saw the dog in the yard, didn't you, boy?'

'Yes, I did, said the boy. 'I saw it with my own eyes, slinking away in
the dusk.'

'Are you sure?' asked Douglas's father.

'Quite sure, sir,' answered the boy.

'I have never caught him telling lies,' said the man. 'I would take his
word before your boy's.'

The upshot of it was that the chickens were again paid for, and Bully
the favourite--Bully, who was almost one of the family--was condemned to
go. Douglas polished his coat-sleeve with some salt tears in private,
and Bully poked him all over with his damp cool nose, as if he guessed
that something was wrong.

Towards evening, Douglas went out, taking Bully with him. He thought he
would see for himself if Bully would try to take the chickens, and with
this idea, went up the garden to a place overlooking the farm hen-roost.
The chickens were chirping and snuggling on their perches, and he felt
sure that Bully was innocent, for he did not even prick an ear at the
sound.

As he stood there, somebody came quietly up the yard.

'The boy, to shut up for the evening,' thought Douglas, for he knew that
at this time the farmer was generally out with the milk. But when they
came nearer he saw that there were two people, the cowboy and a man with
a bag.

Douglas tightened his hold on the dog's collar to cut short a growl, and
listened with all his ears, as the lad went into the shed, and some
squawking and fluttering went on.

'I daren't take more than one,' he said; 'and it is the last time. I
have been putting it on the dog over yonder, and they are getting rid of
it now.'

The man looked annoyed. 'Make it half a dozen, if it's the last time,'
he said. 'I can't give you more than sixpence for that one. It's not
worth coming up here for.'

Douglas loosened Bully's collar.

'Watch him,' he said, and Bully needed no second telling, managing to
keep the tail of