62 Emu and Ostkich J^'ARMiNiJ. 



an empty soap box, in which " Jacko" was securely confiued. 

 I hailed a cab, and with my sable friend on the front boot, drove 

 to the I'ailway station. Here 1 handed the box to the tirst porter 

 I saw, telling him to be sure to put it in the van when my train 

 arrived. He deposited it on the platform, maliciously, as I 

 thought, and it had not been long- there till a jeering crowd was 

 attracted by unwonted sounds proceeding from inside the package 

 and two black paws protruding throug'h the chinks of the lid. Tiie 

 i-emarks of the crowd were, to say the least of it, sarcastic in the 

 highest degTee, and when a nasty .small boy wanted to know 

 •' wha owned the puggy," and when I saw several enquiring faces 

 searching- among the spectators for some indication of ownership, 

 I nearly sank into my boots, and pretended that it '• wasna me that 

 owned it,'" and to further ensure myself against identification, 

 ventured also to utter a few disparaging remarks such as I had 

 heard, and specially addressed to the unknown " bauldy " who was 

 so weak-minded as to possess such a nonsensical and villainous 

 beast. When the train entered the station I hastily secured a 

 seat with the risk of leaving poor " Jacko " behind, but hoping the 

 porter would be "true to his charge." I had previously "tipped" 

 him, and this foresight saved me the discomfiture of my owner- 

 ship being declared at the last moment by the man coming to the 

 carriage door, putting in his hand in the way we all know and 

 exclaiming', '■ The puggy's a' richt in the van, sir." When the train 

 reached its destination I found the porter had been faithful and 

 fairly earned his " tip." It was now dark, and I escaped any 

 further public demonstration under the cover of night. It was 

 10 P.M. when I reached home, and my assistant and '* fidus 

 Achates " in matters zoological was in bed. I did not care to 

 rouse him in case he also " smiled," and I was at a loss as to where 

 I could house *' Jacko " for the night. The heating apparatus of 

 the greenhouse was in the potting shed, and I resolved to put him 

 in the shed as it was warm. This apparatus consisted of a hot 

 water boiler encased in a scpare building of brick- work with a flat 

 top projecting from the back of the greenhouse wall. ''Jacko" 

 was already provided with a chain, one being included in the " lot " 

 when knocked down to me at the sale. With a nail I secured the 

 " lot" to a post, put down some straw on the top of the brick- 

 work, and went to bed, satisfied that he would have a warm bed 

 for the night. Next morning my man, who was gardener as well 



