The Animal Story Book

ical romances. Besides being a great novelist, M. Dumas was a most kind and generous man-kind both to human beings and to animals. He

olitude, for solitude is necessary to anyone who works much. However, I do not like complete loneliness; what I love is that of the Garden of Eden, a soli

t, and the third, which was a female, that of a charming actress. We will call the writer Potich, the novelist the Last of the Laidmanoirs, and the lady Mademoiselle Desgarcins. I had a great blue and yellow macaw called Buv

glad I am to be able to give you something you will really like! A friend of mine who lives in Scotland has sent

ent offered so cordially?

d white, with ears nearly erect, mustard-coloured eyes, and a beautifully fea

ive the present than I was to receive it

d,' he said; 'but if you don't like

a high one. Early the next morning, when the housemaid had opened my front door, there was Pritchard sitting outside. Michel again beat the dog, and again took him back to Vatrin, who this time put a collar round his neck and chained him up. Michel came back and informed me of this severe but necessary measure. Vatrin sent a message to say that I should not see Pritchard again until his education was finished. The next day, while I was writing in a little summer-house in my garden, I heard a furious barking. It was Pritchard fighting with a great Pyrenean sheepdog which another of my friends had just given me. This dog was named Mouton, because of his white woolly hair like a sheep's, not on account of his disposition, wh

Vatrin was so excited that he had forgotte

unched the stem of my pipe three times between my teeth and broken it, and my wife

hear what is said

d much about Vatrin's pipes, for he only looked at me

'll eat holes in the house, I suppose; yet I don't like to give hi

d go for a walk through your preserves, and then we shall see whether it is

ritchard; it should be Bluebeard, it should

greatest villains he cou

led M

s and gaiters; we will go to Vési

will be better pleased than you think.' Fo

e in front of us, Michel,' I said, 'there is a dog very like Pritchard.' Michel looked behind him. There was nothing but the leather straps in his

aid Vatrin. 'Look! wh

e next moment Pritchard was seen coming out of M. Corrège's back door, pursued by a maid servan

d the maid, 'Monsieur

ssed between Michel and me

hel, 'that he likes

pursuing Pritchard, 'I fear that you are losing t

ir, that you have no right to k

woman, who are feedi

M. Corrège. And what will M. Cor

, that it seems Pritchard

be pleased-he will

invite your master t

s all I have to say-he will come to a bad end.' And she stretched out her broom

one another. 'Well,' said

find him,'

ed on towards Vatrin's shooting ground. This search lasted for a good half-hour,

'look there! Jus

?' said I,

on of Michel's finger, and saw Pritchard in a perfect

e here.' Vatrin came.

a point,' said Vatrin.

asked. We cautiously came nearer

in. Then making a sign to me-'Look th

thi

nly had my stick, I'd knock it on the head, a

'if that's all, I'l

chard might lea

wer for him-unless, inde

er moved, only from time to time he turned his

M. Vatrin is cutting a stick?' And Pritchard see

to take off the bra

proached cautiously, took a good aim, and struck with all his might into the

m him, and Michel slipped it into the lining of his coat. T

ratulate Pritchard, b

nd another rabb

ther point. This time Vatrin had a stick ready cut; and after a minute, plu

said, 'put that into

there's room for fiv

gistrate.' And turning to Vatrin I added, 'Let us try onc

'but perhaps it won't b

as the poli

Vatrin said, 'I wonder how long he would st

xperiment, as it is in your own vocation; bu

home. Vatrin followed with

as he was within hearing. 'And if the rabbit had

, what do you

to learn to retrieve, and that you can teach

hear,

he can do that already. H

tchard brought it back. He then threw one of the rabbits that Vatrin carried, and Pritchard brought back the rabbit. Michel

s nothing now but practice. And when one thinks,' he added, 'that if the rascal wo

u may give up hope, Vatrin; that is