re now perfectly
sheltered in the still heaving hollow of their mother's flank.
These comparatively world-worn pups had not arranged themselves
conveniently in a cluster to receive their loving mother's caress.
On the contrary, they were all groping in different directions at
the moment in which Tara's pain-racked body was lowered to rest,
and to shelter them. But, while yet that great body hung over them
in the act of descending, it had twisted and curved into the
required lines, and a soft muzzle had thrust this puppy that way,
and the other another way; the mother's soft, filmy eyes missing
nothing before her or behind. One inch of miscalculation, and the
life had been crushed out of one of those tiny creatures. But pain
brought no miscalculation for Tara.

One quick movement of her head satisfied the mother that her four
firstborn were safe and well disposed. Immediately then, with never
a thought of rest, her nose thrust the new-comer into position
between her fore-paws, and she proceeded to administer the
life-giving and stimulating tongue-wash. Over and over the little
shapeless grey form was turned, cheeping and bleating, until every
crevice of its soft anatomy had come under the vivifying sweep of
six inches of scarlet tongue, warm and tenderly rough. Then the
mother's sensitive nose thrust and coaxed the little creature to
its nesting-place under her flank, where three sisters and a
brother already nosed complainingly among milk-swollen dugs, quite
indifferent to the coming of an addition to their number, and
desiring they knew not what--desiring it lustily.

Then, and not till then, did the beautiful mother of these new-born
descendants of an ancient race permit herself to draw a long breath
of relief, and lower her massive head upon her fore-paws. A moment
later, and a desire which overcame weariness impelled Tara to part
her hot jaws, and glance in the direction of the shaded lamp. No
least movement of hers escaped the Master, and in the moment of her
glance, he came forward with a dish of fresh cold water in his
hand. The mother lapped, slowly, weakly, gratefully, thanking
whatever gods she knew, and the friend whose hand and eye were so
ready, for the balm of water. The man moved very gently and deftly
before her, and no anxiety came into her brown eyes when he leaned
forward to examine the now resting litter at her flank. But it had
gone hardly one fancied with the stranger, or even with the casual
a