1 88 My Dogs in the Northland 



put my hand on them, the instant I wanted 

 them, I quietly approached the box. Ad- 

 dressing the dog by the name given me in 

 Dr. Mark's letter, I began to talk kindly to 

 him, and also to vigourously cut into the 

 back of that big, firm packing case. 



At first, every blow and word seemed to 

 make the dog, if possible, more wild and 

 furious. At every blow struck on the out- 

 side of the box, he would spring at the place 

 inside, until now my fears were aroused lest 

 I should, as my axe cut through, badly in- 

 jure him. 



So cautiously, as well as rapidly, I rained 

 the blows upon the box until piece after 

 piece began to fly off. 



All this time I was talking to him, and 

 telling him that he had been treated most 

 shamefully but his troubles would soon be 

 over, that I would soon have him out, and 

 that I had plenty of food and water for him. 



When the boards began to split open and 

 pieces to fly off from the back, and Rover 

 saw the daylight, for the first time there, 

 coming in, there was at once a change in 

 him. Here he saw an opening for his escape, 

 and in his anxiety to £?et out, his growls and 

 angry barkings rapidly moderated. 



