ple o' dingoes
hunted the pore thing down. Hi! Nib, what come o' them dingoes?"

"_R-r-r-r-ur_," snarled the big dog fiercely.

"Ay, you did, mate. He gave them dingo, sir. These wild dogs is one of
our biggest noosances after the sheep. Now, please chop straight. Well
done, sir! There's three. Take care. That chopper's very sharp. Now
through there and there. That's right. Three bits. I was going to
bury half on it, for it won't keep mor'n two nights; but your two sheep,
dogs'll help him. We'll feed 'em up a bit for two or three days, and
then starve 'em for two or three more to put it straight. Now then,
sir, you stick the fork into they three bits, and you shall feed 'em,
that'll clinch old Nibbler's making friends with you. See?"

Nic nodded.

"Look," said Samson: "he knows what I've been saying."

The dog, which was sitting watching, with a collie on either side--the
latter evidently in doubt as to whether the joints were intended for the
house--gave a deep bark.

"Now give him the biggest bit, sir."

Nic stuck the fork in the piece of loin and held it out to the big dog,
and it came and took it with a low muttering sound, wagging its tail
slowly from side to side, while the collies grew excited, growled, and
tossed up their heads to utter a protesting whine.

"Here, you, Nib, wait," cried Samson. "Give t'other two their bits,
sir."

Nic served each collie, and then stared at what followed.

"Now then!" cried Samson, "take it out in the back and eat it. Show
your chums the way. Right off. No messing about nigh the house. Off
with you!"

The big dog uttered a low growl, and went off with its breakfast, the
collies following; all three looking decidedly comic with their jaws
distended.

"There you are, sir," said the old man, wiping the chopper very
carefully and then sticking it into the big clean block. "Seems a pity.
Beautiful mutton. The brutes had only just pulled it down when Nib was
on to 'em. Leather called me to see. It was half-hour's walk, and
there he was sitting by the sheep, and the two dead dingoes close by."

"Didn't he begin worrying it?" asked Nic.

"Him, sir? Nibbler worry a sheep? Not him. Why, I've seen him lie
down and let the lambs play about him. I should like to ketch him at
it. Not him, sir: I eddicated that dog. There ain't his like nowhere.
Coming along o' me, Master Nic?"

"Yes: I want to see all about the place."

"That's right. Ah, yo