ing the shady pool where the horses were now
standing in a shallow, with the drops falling from their muzzle.

"Poor beasts! they are thirsty," cried the doctor, as Nic was literally
dragged to the edge of the pool, the dogs striving to plunge right in.
"Don't let them go, Nic."

"But they'll have me in, father."

"Don't let them, boy. Ah!"

Nic had not the least intention of letting them, but as the dogs had
tugged at their chains the boy was forced from a hobble into a trot, and
then, before the doctor could help, he caught one foot in the tough
herbage, tripped, went down, and was dragged a yard or two, and then,
with a rush and tremendous splash, he followed the dogs' plunge off the
bank into deep water, to be towed here and there by the delighted
animals, which swam about, barking, drinking, and threatening to tangle
their chains in a worse knot than before--to wit, round Nic.

But after the first few moments' confusion the boy touched bottom, and
began to wade back, finding it easier to master the dogs in the water
than out.

"Well, that's a nice beginning, Nic!" said the doctor.

"Isn't it horrid?" cried the boy.

"Wet?" said his father laconically. "There, it might have been worse.
Let them drink, and then bring them back to the waggon and tie them up.
We must keep them on the chain till we get them home. Poor fellows,
then!" he cried, reaching down to pat the dripping heads. "There!
you've had as much as is good for you. Come along."

A tug or two at the chains brought the dogs out, to let themselves off,
as it were, and scatter glistening water drops from their shaggy hides,
after which they broke out into a duet of barks, and danced about on the
bank, wagging their tails, evidently inviting Nic to cast sticks into
the water for them to fetch, but they followed quietly enough, with the
horses behind them, lowering their heads to bite playfully at the
collies' waving tails.

"You can get at your portmanteau; it's on the top," said the doctor, as
soon as the dogs were secured. "Get out some dry things. You can make
a dressing-room behind the tree."

All this the boy proceeded to do, and by the time he had changed he felt
none the worse for his involuntary bath, and hung his wrung-out garments
on the scorching waggon-tilt to dry.

This done, he obeyed his father's summons, and found him seated in the
shade, waiting with a basket of provisions, which Lady O'Hara had
provided for their use, wh