dog's distress at loss of its young. 197 



lay down to rest;, and look up to him^, with speaking 

 eyes, for a token of approbation, which, if obtained, 

 transported her with joy. Yet this gentle crea- 

 ture, so docile, patient of injury, and grateful for 

 kindness, would, in defence of her master, and in 

 obedience to his commands, attack the largest ani- 

 mal with courageous alacrity, and seemed insensi- 

 ble of fear, when any duty was to be performed. 

 Miss Mackenzie, who was at this time about eleven 

 years old, had several favourite animals, on whom 

 she bestowed much attention ; amongst these, Zara 

 and a cat held the first place, of whom you shall 

 hear more in the sequel. For some days after 

 Zara missed her puppies, she went about moaning 

 piteously, and seemed inconsolable. Her young 

 mistress observed, with great concern, that, in ad- 

 dition to her maternal sorrows, this poor dog suffer- 

 ed much from the distention of her teats, which it 

 was not easy to relieve ; but, being very fond of her, 

 she contrived to press out the milk with her fingers. 

 The grateful dog testified her thanks for this ser- 

 vice, by signs and gestures that made speech unne- 

 cessary. Zara had chosen a retreat for depositing 

 her off'spring, that, no doubt, appeared to her secure 

 from invaders. A large house, near her master's, 

 had been burned down : the sunk story remained 

 full of rubbish ; and there, in the oven which had 



