fault in her, unless that she was a shade too straight in her
hocks, a fault that often goes with great stature in a hound.
Finn's hocks were curved like an Arab stallion's, springy as a
cat's. The Judge tested the two hounds side by side, again and
again, and in every way he could think of, but without coming to a
decision between them. At last, after passing his hand down the
hocks of the Lady Iseult, he asked that they might both be run,
quickly as possible, while led. That seemed to guide him a good
deal. But it was clear that the conscientious old Judge and breeder
was not yet fully satisfied. Finally, he had the opening to the
rings closed, and a hurdle brought in. Then the Lady Iseult was
invited to run at and leap the hurdle. She did so, and with a good
grace, returning docilely enough to her master. Then the Master
loosed Finn, and the Mistress of the Kennels called him from the
far side of the ring. Finn bounded forward with the elasticity of a
cat, and cleared the hurdle with a perfect spring and fully two
feet to spare. The Judge stroked his imperial, laid a hand on the
shoulders of both hounds, and said--

"The young dog has it--the finest hound I ever saw!"

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VII

REVELATIONS

It is the custom at dog shows for the authorities to distribute
certificates on coloured cardboard of all the awards made by the
judges. At this show of Finn's great triumph, first prize cards
were all blue, second prize cards red, and third prize cards
yellow. The custom was for exhibitors proudly to affix these cards
to the wire net-work stretched above the bench of the winning dog.
So it fell out that soon after the judging of Wolfhounds was over,
two red cards and two blue cards were fixed over Kathleen's bench,
and the Mistress of the Kennels lavished considerable attention
upon her, lest she should be moved to jealousy of Finn. The
decoration of the wire-work over Finn's bench was most striking.

First, there were four blue first prize cards, for his sensational
win in Open, Limit, Novice, and Junior classes. Then there was a
very handsome card with ribbons attached, signifying that Finn had
won the Challenge Shield for the best Irish Wolfhound in the Show.
And then there were two other blue cards telling that Finn had won
two special prizes; one, a medal offered by a member of the Irish
Wolfhound Club for the best hound at the Show bred by its
exhibitor; and another, of two guineas, off