llowed himself to
be experimented upon in that way, was not at home. Roland said that the
dwarf was at home, and he would be ready to do it. He himself went
after the dwarf.

After Roland had gone, the huntsman, Claus, hastily grasped Eric's
hand, saying, "I will help you to catch him, and I can give the fellow
slick into your hand."

Eric gazed in utter astonishment at the old man, who proceeded to
inform him that he understood very well what he had come for, and
whoever knew how could make out of Roland a proper man. He signified by
a very sly wink that Eric would some day be exceedingly grateful to
him, if he should help him out.

Before Eric could make any reply, Roland came back with the dwarf, who
allowed a pillow to be fastened over his shoulders, and stationed
himself at the garden-fence, holding fast by the palings with both
hands. A large Newfoundland dog was let out of a kennel, and sprang
about awkwardly in all directions, but at a whistle from the keeper
stationed himself behind him.

The keeper now called out, "Griffin! catch him! At him!"

With a bound the dog-leaped through the garden at the dwarf standing by
the fence, jumped upon him, bit into the pillow, tugged at him until he
fell over, and then placed his right fore-foot upon his breast, looking
back at his master.

"Bravo! bravo! You see he is a real devil!"

"You are right!" exclaimed Roland. "Devil! that's just the name--Devil
he shall be called. Now they will be afraid of me all over the
neighborhood."

Eric was shocked at this insolent bravado as well as at the off-hand
application of the idea. He appealed to the trainer whether a dog's
name ought to be changed who had already cut all his teeth.

"Certainly not," asserted the man; "a dog whose name is changed don't
know when he is called."

"And besides," added Eric, "it is wholly wrong to give a dog such a
name. A dog's name ought to have an _a_ in it, and have only one
syllable; the letter _a_ can be called aloud very easily."

"You are a great scholar; I never heard of the like before; you know
everything;" the screamer went on in high commendation, winking at the
same time merrily, and with half-sidelong glances.

Devil--for Roland persisted in giving the dog this name--would not come
away from the dwarf, prostrate on the ground, although both Roland and
the trainer called to him repeatedly. That was not a part of his
lesson. He held on until the trainer showed his whip.