Dick and Brownie

d, on the wide stretch of moorland in the distance, and

coppice, where the caravan stood; but even there the heat was stifling, and the smell

a horse and a dog, and of all the things in that stretch of country they were the most unlovely. The man and the woman were dirty, untidy, red-faced and coarse. Even in their sleep their faces looked cruel and sullen. The old horse standing patiently by, with drooping head and hopeless, patient eyes, looked starved and weak. His poor body was so

ears and tail at the sleeping man and woman, with ears a little raised at the old horse, and then with both ears and tail alertly cocked he looked about him eagerly, even anxiously. A second later he was leaping up the ste

m, or a stick across his back, or a kick in the ribs, if he were foolish enough to go within reach of a foot. With his long nose to th

was only a clue, but it sent his spirits up again, and with his nose to the ground he came quickly back to the edge of the little wood and

es heave painfully. Then his head drooped again, even more sadly than before, and he closed his eyes patiently once more. He loved the lank yellow dog. Next to little Huldah he loved him better than

an animal could pass from the road to the moor, and back again. To Dick, who did not understand it, this was very bewildering. Ahead of him a black shadow would flit for a moment, dark against the dazzling white road, then it would disappear. It moved so swiftly and so close t

re where she was, or that she wanted him; and there are times in the lives of caravan dogs when they are not wanted, and are made to know

ll on the alert to find out if that shadow ahead of him was really his little mist

girl, stood for a moment under the shelter of the hedge and looked hurriedly about her. "Which'll be the safest way to go?" she gasped to herself, and wished her heart w

everybody if they've seen me." A sob caught in her throat, and tears came very near her eyes. She had often and often thought of running away, but ha

terrible that the mere thought of them made her turn off the high road at a run, and dash into the nearest lane she came to. She had the sense to choose one on the opposite side of the road, lest she should find herself back on the moor again. A moo

off her brow in heavy drops. She picked up her apron at last, to wipe them away, and then it was she found the bundle of raffia and the two or three baskets she had brought out to sell, when the thought had come to her that she would never go back any more-that here was th

in spite of the heat and her weariness, she ran, and ran madly, she did not know or care whither, as long as she got lost. Wherever sh

and with the baskets lay her only chance of being able to buy food, and oh, she needed food badly. She needed

though, they had come to moorland again, with only a big boulder here and there for shelter, and when Huldah suddenly fell down, exhausted, Dick, in his fright at seeing her lying on the ground motionless, forgot all about hiding away. Everything but concern for his little mistress went out of his head. Huldah, lying flat on the groun

e was so overcome, he could no longer keep his feelings under restraint. A bark broke from him, eager, coaxing, hal

o glad!" and flinging her arms round his long yellow neck she burst into happy tears. Dick was delighted. Instead of being scolded, he was pett

d oh, I hope they won't beat poor old Charlie worse than ever, because they are a

mething to eat in that bare spot, but that it was more than they could. Huldah realised this too, and with a si

ou are clever, and can scent things out. Y

understand it, but a rabbit popping up ahead of them at that moment drew him on, and Huldah more slowly followed. It was a very zig-

the welcome sight of smoke rising out of chimneys, then other signs of life, and presently came to a farm standing in the middle of a large y

to add to the desolateness. As Huldah and Dick drew nearer, another and more terrifying sound arose, and that was the barking of dogs. Dogs sprang up from everywher

oo, not to speak of the farmer, who was armed with a long whip, and two or three workmen, who were well provided with sticks or pitchforks, and hungry, footsore Dick did not at that mom

once more; and the fright had so shaken Huldah's courage that when presently she caught sight of more smoking chimneys, an

l of people, she felt decidedly sorry, and wished wild

on doorstep or pavement, enjoying the coolness of the evening air; and, having nothing to do and little to talk about, and not much to look at, they

ly, tired, rather than under this fire of eyes. She had wanted very much to try to sell one of her baskets, that she might be able to buy some bread, but the staring people daunted her. She fe

long, his tail down, his ears drooping, his tongue hanging out. Huldah herself was in a half-dazed state, she scarcely knew where she was, or what she was doing. She plodded on and on mechanically, every step becoming harder, ever

ed, lonely, frightened child it seemed a beautiful sight. It was like a

y won't kill me; perhaps they'll give me a bit of bread for o

ars, he was better off than poor Huldah in that respect, but he roused to renewed interest and expectation wh