on.

Bill had a habit of speaking his thoughts aloud, especially when up at
night. He found company in the habit, and was employing his time in this
way now.

"Two o'clock. Another half-hour and he'll have to have the soup, and then
a little stim'lant. That wus the orders. Let's see. To-morrow's Toosday.
That'll make it three weeks since the master brought un back with him in
his motor, all wrapped in blankets. 'Twas that ogg-sigen as saved him at
the moment. But here--he's been fed every two hours, night and day since,
any way. Well, well...."

There was a step on the cobbles of the yard. Bill looked round. "Mr.
Charles"--as he called him--the head of the firm, was coming.

Five weeks before this Murphy had been taken ill. Nobody appeared to know
what was the matter with him, except that he was restless, refused his
food, and looked wrong in his coat. The very spirit there was in him
misled others: he would hunt birds under the smallest provocation;
rabbits were not animals to be given up so long as there was breath in
the body; that finest of games, working to the hand, was to be played to
the last day, for was it not the jolliest of fun for both, and did not
his master laugh loudly when it was all over, and he skipped and barked
and jumped himself, asking for just one more turn? It was only the
chicken-hearted that gave up; life was to be lived to the very last
minute, especially when so full of fun and happiness as his. If he
flagged and was tired after these doings, it was only the hot weather: he
would be all right tomorrow. So he was kept quiet for a week.

But the morrow came, and he was less full of life than on the day before.
There was something evidently wrong; though advice was asked, and with
little gain. His bright eyes had grown dull now, and he refused all food.
It was time to call in the best opinion that could be had.

"Distemper. Pneumonia; and the heart also affected." That was the
verdict. There was just a chance for him. It would be a risk to move him
so far; but it was perhaps worth it, as treatment could then be followed
properly: in establishments of the kind all animals were tended with as
much care and skill as patients in a hospital.

So Murphy was taken away. How suddenly it had all come about. And now
three weeks had gone by; and the dog still lived.

"How's he doing, Bill?"

"No difference to my mind, as I can see."

"We must save him, if we can, Bill. She was here again to-da