eady been that he was to stop when
his master stopped, and when the latter sat or lay down he was to come
in. He had already responded in a small way to this training, and now he
dropped his games with the sheep, left them, and came slowly back. He
guessed that something was about to happen by his master's solemn
silence, and therefore approached with caution. It is never necessary in
the case of ordinary offences and with ordinary dogs to be over severe
with the stick--if a suitable one is handy, which it generally is not. A
lecture and a shaking does as well, with a tap or two with a stick to
show it is there. Provoking as the incident had been, this last is what
Murphy duly received. The shooting-stick was much brandished in the air,
and the dog called "Murder," long and loudly. The delinquent was
evidently catching it, judged the farmer; and he waved his arm and
disappeared.

That was gained, any way: what about the dog? He had learnt what the
rattle of the shooting-stick meant. He had also learnt that sheep were to
be suffered in their stupid, irritating ways, and not chased. For a short
while he took the matter to heart, being always woefully depressed when
he even thought he had done wrong. But he soon recovered, and showed
contrition in the winning way he had now begun to acquire--by coming up
shyly from behind, and endeavouring to reach the fingers of his master's
hand.

The whole episode proved a success--from the man's point of view, at
least; in the case of the dog and the sheep no doubt it was coloured.
Murphy had certainly acquired confidence by what had happened, just as a
boy may, when he gets his first fall out hunting, and finds himself less
hurt than he fancied would be the case in turning a somersault. Added to
this, there was also gain in the fact that from that day forward he was
immaculate with sheep, as will be seen.

Though Murphy was quickly judged as one who had been "born good," and
continued to be so regarded all his life, it is not to be supposed that
he never transgressed, and thereby never incurred the punishment of a
shaking. He was canine, as men are human; the two terms are equally
synonymous with error, and faults, one way or the other, have to suffer
correction. But in his case, the faults of which he was guilty were
almost invariably confined to those of a petty and irritating
description--exhibition of nervousness when there was no need, failure in
the recognition of his name, l