46 MUNGO. 



came on and no one had seen or heard anything 

 of my pet, I felt certain he had met with some 

 sad fate most probably had been caught in a 

 snare or trap set by the poachers on the common. 

 Next day, gardeners and farm-men were sent out 

 in all directions to look for him. The search 

 went on for many hours, and at last I heard 

 the welcome cry, " Mungo is found ! " Poor 

 little fellow ! but how my heart ached to see 

 him in torturing pain with a wild, scared look 

 in his eyes. He had, as we suspected, strayed 

 across the boundary on to the common, and 

 there he had been caught in a spring-trap, which 

 had completely crushed one of his fore-paws. 



I had only a few minutes in which to decide 

 whether the poor little animal must be put 

 out of his misery at once or if there might be 

 hope, by skilful amputation, of ultimate recovery 

 I am sure that all lovers of animals will understand 

 the keen distress I felt at having to make such a 

 decision, but something, must be done, and as I found 

 I could not give the death warrant, Mungo was taken 

 to the veterinary doctor, with injunctions to spare 

 no pains in trying to save the patient all needless 



